In the last 30 days, several key macroeconomic trends have been observed that impact financial markets and economies. In particular, changes in the labor market, data on economic activity, and the level of market sentiment are noteworthy.
The labor market in the United States shows signs of stabilization with some level of improvement. The unemployment rate fell to 4.3% in March 2026, which is a better result compared to the forecasted 4.4%. This is a positive signal, suggesting that the labor market remains relatively healthy despite economic uncertainty. Meanwhile, non-farm payrolls increased by 178 thousand compared to the forecasted 65 thousand, indicating a significantly larger increase in employment than expected. This can be interpreted as a sign of rising demand for workers, which in turn may lead to further increases in consumption.
It is also worth noting the data on wages. Average hourly earnings increased by 0.2% compared to an expected increase of 0.3%. Although the wage growth is lower than expected, it remains positive, suggesting a gradual increase in the purchasing power of workers. Nevertheless, the lower-than-expected wage growth may affect consumption dynamics, especially in the context of inflation.
From the perspective of economic activity, PMI indicators provide mixed signals. The ISM Services PMI stood at 54.0, slightly below expectations of 54.8, but still indicates expansion in the services sector. On the other hand, the ISM Manufacturing PMI reached 52.7, exceeding expectations of 52.3. This data suggests that the manufacturing sector remains in a growth phase, which is a positive signal for the economy.
Retail sales data also brought positive surprises. Retail sales increased by 0.6%, surpassing forecasts of 0.5%. Similarly, retail sales excluding automobiles rose by 0.5%, which was also higher than expectations of 0.3%. This indicates that consumption remains strong, which is a key factor supporting economic growth.
Regarding monetary policy, the current FED interest rate is 3.50-3.75%, and the market expects it to remain at this level with a probability of 98.4%. Only 1.6% of the market expects a hike to the range of 3.75-4.00% at the upcoming FOMC meeting scheduled for April 29, 2026 (Warsaw time). This indicates expectations of stability in monetary policy, which may be a result of observed inflation trends and the labor market situation.
In the context of broader market sentiment, the Fear & Greed Index indicates a value of 23/100, which signifies extreme fear, although it is worth noting that market sentiment is improving, rising by 10 points in the last month. The increase from 13/100 a week ago to the current 23/100 suggests that investors are becoming somewhat more optimistic, despite ongoing concerns about the future of the economy and the market.
In summary, in the last month, macroeconomic data indicates some stabilization and moderate growth in various sectors of the U.S. economy. The labor market shows positive signs with a clear increase in employment, although wage growth is slightly below expectations. Retail sales and activity in the manufacturing sector are promising, indicating the durability of consumer demand. The stability of the FED's monetary policy appears to align with current market conditions, and the improving, albeit still low, market sentiment indicates cautious optimism among investors.