Macro Briefing: 17 December 2021

* Build Back Better spending bill will be delayed until next year, says Biden
* Central banks see inflation as bigger threat than Omicron variant
* Bank of England is first major central bank to raise interest rates in pandemic
* US economy remains resilient in December via PMI survey data
* US industrial output continued rising in November
* Jobless claims rose last week but remain close to lowest level in decades
* US housing starts rose more than forecast in Nov, reaching 8-month high: