Commentary Archive

December 2006
29 Local NAPM Reports Show Gains in December, but Include Weak Components
28 Consumer Confidence Increases Unexpectedly in December, but Net Gains Based in Fewer Negative Responses
28 Existing Home Sales Also Up in November; Prices Are Down Slightly, but Supply Overhang Shrinks a Bit as Market Conditions Show Some Improvement
27 New Home Sales Gain 3.4% in November; Prices Also Up, Inventories Down
26 Discretionary Consumer Spending Picks Up in US as Energy Outlays Fall
22 U.S. Durable Goods Orders Rebounded, But ...
22 U.S. Consumer Sentiment Recovered Some
22 Business Enthusiasm Cools a Bit in France & Italy Amid Generally Constructive Climate
22 U.S. Personal Income Again Light, Core Prices Ease
21 Canadian Economy Stalls Out in October
21 Mass Layoffs Up
21 Philadelphia Fed Index Fell Unexpectedly
21 U.S. Leading Economic Indicators Edged Up
21 Chicago Fed Nat'l Activity Index Negative
21 US 3Q GDP Growth Revised Lower
21 Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims Rose
20 UK Institutional Investors Invest Record Amount in Q3
20 Mortgage Applications Reversed Gain
19 Italian Industrial Sales and Orders Steady: German Business Optimism Grows
19 NAHB Housing Market Index Slipped
19 Weekly Chain Store Sales Rose Again
19 Gasoline Prices Up Again
19 Housing Starts Recover A Bit
19 November PPI Gain the Largest Since 1974
18 Euro Zone Trade Shows a Surplus, but Rising Imports from China Add to Pressure on China to Speed Up Appreciation of the Yuan
18 Another Record U.S. Current Account Deficit in 3Q
15 Industrial Output Up Slightly
15 Empire State Index Slipped Less Than Expected, Expectations Up
15 Q4 TANKAN Results Show Best Japanese Industry Performance in Many Years
15 CPI Unchanged
14 Current Accounts in Central Europe: Services, Income and Transfers Play Significant Role
14 U.S. Import Prices Up
14 Initial Claims For Jobless Insurance at Two Month Low
13 Japan Current Account Hits Record ¥2.02 Trillion in October; Trade, Services & Income All Contribute
13 U.S. Inventory Accumulation Continued Easier
13 Mortgage Applications Rose Further
13 JOLTS: Job Openings & Hires Firm
13 U.S. Retail Sales Recovered
12 Small Business Optimism Slipped
12 U.S. Budget Deficit Continued to Shrink
12 FOMC: Funds Rate Steady, Economy OK, Inflation Risks Remain
12 Weekly Chain Store Sales Recovered Some
12 Gasoline Prices Slip a Penny
12 U.S. Trade Deficit Lowest in Over One Year
12 German Investors and Analysts Less Pessimistic About the Outlook:  IfW Institute Doubles its 2007 Growth Estimate 
11 Germany's Current Account Surplus Declines in 3rd Q:  Data for October Suggests a Better 4th Quarter
11 OECD Leaders Up Again
8 Flow-of-Funds: Anomalous Behavior of Foreign Investment & Marked Reduction in Home Equity Withdrawal
8 U.S. Flow of Funds: Debt Growth Off Considerably
8 U.S. Consumer Sentiment Fell on Diminished Expectations
8 Firm U.S. Payroll Report with Still More Upward Revisions
7 Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims Down, Monster Index Up
6 UK Industrial Production Takes Unexpected Fall in October
6 Slower U.S. Factory Inventory Accumulation: Oil & Computers
6 Life in Housing - Mortgage Applications Recover
6 ADP Report: Private Sector Jobs Rose 158,000 in November
5 Challenger Layoffs Up Slightly
5 Weekly Chain Store Sales Collapsed
5 Gasoline Prices Highest in Two Months
5 ISM Nonmanufacturing Index Up Again, Unexpectedly
5 U.S. Productivity Little Revised, Compensation Lowered Sharply
4 Third Quarter GDP in Thailand Rises at an Annual Rate of 6%
4 U.S. Vehicle Sales Lowest in a Year
1 Poland GDP Up 5.9% in Q3; Both Domestic Sectors Participate
1 ISM Composite Index Lowest Since 2003
1 U.S. Construction Spending Decline Fifth in Six Months
November 2006
30 Chicago Purchasing Managers Survey Down in November
30 Home Price Appreciation Slowest in Three Years
30 Canada GDP Slows in Q3: Temporary Easing -- or Not?
30 Help-Wanted Advertising Low
30 Chicago Fed Survey of Factory Activity Down
30 U.S. Personal Income Gain Light, Core Prices Firmer
30 Initial Claims for Jobless Insurance Jumped
29 Sharp Rise in Japanese Industrial Production for October; Capital Goods Especially Strong
29 Mortgage Applications Down on Lower Refis
29 US 3Q GDP Growth Revised Up, Profits Firm
29 New Home Sales Fell, Prices Increase
28 Some Haver Sources to Monitor the Ups and Downs of the U. S. Dollar
28 Consumer Confidence Slipped Again
28 Weekly Chain Store Sales Slip, Month A Bit Better
28 Gasoline Prices Up Another Penny
28 Air Came Out of U.S. Durable Orders, Tech Off As Well
28 U.S. Existing Home Sales & Prices Inch Up
27 Germany Shows Solid GDP Growth and Improved Confidence
27 World's Output Gains Lift Commodity Prices
24 Sweden's Strong Exports Limit Harm from Energy Price Surge
22 Prices Down a Little for Home-Cooked Thanksgiving Dinner
22 U.S. Consumer Sentiment Edged Lower
22 U.S. Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims Bounced Up
22 U.S. Mortgage Applications Reversed Gain
21 Migration and the New Zealand Economy
21 Chicago Fed National Activity Index Remained Negative
21 U.S. Chain Store Sales Rose
21 Gasoline Prices Up A Bit
20 Taiwan and Singapore Report 3rd Quarter Gross Domestic Product
20 U.S. Leading Economic Indicators Better
17 Mexico GDP Up 4.6% Yr/Yr in Q3, With Good Gains in Construction and Services
17 Housing Starts Plumb Six Year Low
16 Treasury TIC Data Shows Strong Investment Flows into US, but Also Sizable Outflows Abroad by US Investors
16 NAHB Housing Market Index Improved Again
16 Philadelphia Fed Index Improved Slightly
16 Industrial Output Ticked Higher, Trend Slowdown Dramatic
16 CPI Again Fell 0.5%, Core Increase Lightest Since February
16 Initial Claims for Jobless Insurance Remained Low
15 UK Labor Market Stalls; Unemployment Rate Highest since Spring 2000
15 Slower U.S. Sales Require Slower Inventory Accumulation
15 Empire State Index Unexpectedly Firm
15 Mortgage Applications Surged Again
14 3rd Q GDP:  Japan Surprises, Europe Disappoints Germany's ZEW Survey: More Cautious Expectations
14 Chain Store Sales Off As Well
14 PPI: Total & Core Fell
14 U.S. Retail: Sales of Discretionary Items & Gasoline Lower
13 Industrial Production in Egypt, Jordan, Japan and Kazakhstan
13 OECD Leaders Rose
10 Industrial Production in India Grows 2.2% in September; Manufacturing Sector in Broad-Based Expansion
10 Credit Standards Eased as Demand Fell
9 UK Trade Deficit Also Eases with Oil Prices; Heightened Law Enforcement Reduces "MTIC Fraud Trade"
9 U.S. Import Prices Down: Oil & Other Prices Off
9 U.S. Consumer Sentiment Slipped
9 Initial Claims for Jobless Insurance Back Down
9 U.S. Trade Deficit Narrowed Sharply
8 Mortgage Applications Recovery Big
7 Japanese Household Living Expenditures Decline Sharply:  Implications for 3rd Q GDP?
7 Chain Store Sales Recover
7 Gasoline Prices Drift Lower
6 Sales and New Orders and NTC's PMI Suggest Manufacturing in Germany Is Decelerating 
6 MAPI Business Outlook Survey Off Further
3 Rebound in Canadian Labor Market after Summer Pause
3 ISM Nonmanufacturing Index Recovered
3 U.S. Payroll Report: More Upward Revisions
2 Challenger Layoffs Back Down
2 German Labor Markets Show More Distinct Gain
2 U.S. Productivity Unchanged
2 U.S. Factory Inventory Accumulation Continued
2 U.S. Vehicle Sales Retraced Earlier Increase
2 Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance Jumped
1 PMI Surveys Hint at Slower Growth in Several Countries
1 U.S. Construction Spending Down
1 ADP Reported Hiring Improved During October
1 ISM Composite Index Fell, Price Index Below 50
1 Mortgage Applications Fell Hard
October 2006
31 Economic Sentiment in Europe Continues to Improve
31 Consumer Confidence Eased
31 Gasoline Prices Stable
31 Chain Store Sales Momentum Gone
31 Employment Cost Index Accelerated Further
30 Renewed Interest in the Money Supply??
30 U.S. Personal Income Firm, Core Price Increases Stable-to-Lower
27 Spanish Labor Markets Remain Vigorous
27 U.S. Consumer Sentiment Improved Further
27 US GDP Growth Weakest Since 2003
26 Building Permits Down Sharply in 8 of 9 Census Divisions; Only Oil Patch Shows Gain
26 Help-Wanted Advertising: Stable & Low
26 Surge in U.S. Durable Goods Orders All Air
26 New Home Prices Down, Sales Up
26 Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance Reversed Decline
25 Japan's Trade Accounts Benefit from Lower Oil Prices and Rising Exports
25 Federal Funds Rate Steady at 5.25%
25 Mortgage Applications Ticked Higher
25 U.S. Existing Home Sales & Prices Down
25 Negative Readings from the Chicago Fed & the Richmond Fed
24 Mixed Signals for Europe in Today's Data Releases
24 Decline in Chain Store Sales Retraced All of the Recent Gains
24 Gasoline Off Another Two Cents, Natural Gas Prices Firm
23 Bank of Israel Keeps Interest Rate at 5.5%
20 Energy & Gold Prices: Whiffs of Reflation?
19 Philadelphia Fed Index Remained Negative
19 Leading Economic Indicators 0.1% Rise Disappointing
19 Initial Jobless Insurance Claims At Four Month Low
18 Old News: Euro-Zone Trade Suffers from High Energy Costs in August, Too
18 Rise in Housing Starts Surprising
18 Mortgage Applications Fell Again
18 CPI Fell 0.5%, Core Rose an Expected 0.2%
17 NAHB Housing Market Index Ticked Up
17 Industrial Production Fell
17 Lower Gasoline Prices Helped Spending at Chain Stores, Again
17 The German Financial Community Is Growing  More Cautious about Economic Conditions Six Month Ahead
17 PPI Fell, Core Prices Firm
16 German Productivity Growth in Manufacturing Tops That of the United States
16 Higher Receipts Lower U.S. Budget Deficit
16 Empire State Index Highest Since June
13 France CPI: Energy Brings Down Total Inflation, But Food Prices Have Been Picking Up
13 U.S. Consumer's Sentiment Buoyant
13 U.S. Import Prices Down With Oil, All Others Tame
13 U.S. Business Inventory Accumulation Highest Since 2005
13 Lower Gasoline Prices Dropped U.S. Retail Sales
12 China Exports, Imports Set Records in September. 
We Discuss Difference Between Exports to US and US Imports from China
12 Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims Remained Low
12 Record August U.S. Trade Deficit Swelled By Higher Oil Prices
11 South Africa Industry and Retail Trade Show Growth
11 Lower Gasoline Prices Helped Lift Chain Store Sales
11 Mortgage Applications Retraced Prior Gain
10 Kazakhstan in the News and Haver Data
10 Small Business Optimism Recovered, Pricing Pressures Eased
9 German Industrial Production Is the Big News But There's Also News on Industrial Production in Emerging Economies
9 OECD Leaders: Four Months Down
6 Eastern Europe CPI Uneven, but Coming Under Control; Energy Plays a Part
6 Upward Revision Salvages Weak September U.S. Payroll Report
5 Brazil's Industry Strengthening or Slowing, Depending on Who You Ask, But Consumer Expectations at High
5 Initial Claims for Jobless Insurance At Ten Week Low
4 UK House Prices Still Strong in September
4 ISM Nonmanufacturing Index Down, Components Up
4 U.S. Factory Inventory Gain Slowed
4 Mortgage Applications Surged
4 ADP Reports Less Hiring During September
4 Lower Gasoline Prices Fueled U.S. Vehicle (Truck) Sales
3 Avoiding Pitfalls in Comparing Retail Sales Among Countries
3 Chain Store Sales & Gasoline Prices Fell Again
3 Challenger Layoffs Up Sharply
2 Japan's "Tankan" Like Germany's "IFO" Confident of the Present but Cautious of the Future
2 U.S. Construction Spending Up Unexpectedly
2 ISM Composite & Price Indexes Down
September 2006
29 New Zealand Restructures Its CPI; MP3 Players Are In, Hairspray Is Out.  Inflation Through June Remains at 4%
29 U.S. Consumer Sentiment Rose As Inflation Expectations Fell
29 U.S. Personal Income Up As Expected, Core Price Inflation Tame
28 Retail Trade Takes Summer Break in Sweden; Mail Order Buying Is Vigorous
28 US GDP Growth Revised Back to 2.6%, Profits Weaker
28 Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance Fell
27 UK Consumers Pay Down Credit Cards
27 U.S. Durable Goods Orders Unexpectedly Lost Steam
27 New Home Sales Up, Revisions & Prices Down
27 Mortgage Purchase Application Recovery Stalled
26 European Confidence Measures Signaling Caution
26 Consumer Confidence Recovered
26 Chain Store Sales Down Again. Gasoline Prices Still Falling
25 China Close to Ousting the United  States as Number One Exporter
25 U.S. Existing Home Sales Hold Up As Prices Fell
22 Taiwan Employment Grows, Even in Factories; Unemployment Lowest in 5-1/2 Years
22 Energy & Gold Prices Deflate
21 Israel's Economy Sees Slower Growth in the Face of War in Lebanon; Lebanon's Economy Falls Dramatically
21 Philadelphia Fed Index Negative
21 Leading Economic Indicators Fell
21 Mass Layoffs Up
21 Chicago Fed Nat'l Activity Index Negative Again
21 Initial Jobless Insurance Claims Rose More Than Expected
20 Spain's Labor Costs Pick Up in Q2; Benefits Outstrip Wage Gains
20 U.S. Federal Funds Rate Again Held at 5.25%
20 U.S. Mortgage Purchase Application Recovery Stalled
20 US Flow of Funds: Households' Net Worth Stable
19 German Investors and Analysts Confident of the Present but Wary of the Future
19 U.S. Chain Store Sales Fell Hard Along With Gasoline Prices
19 U.S. Housing Starts Off 20% Y/Y
19 U.S. PPI Up 0.1%, Core Prices Fell
18

NAHB Housing Market Index Down By One Half
18 U.S. Current Account Deficit Deeper: Oil Imports Surged
15 U.S. Consumer Sentiment Improved Further, Expectations Up
15 Japan's Flow-of-Funds Data for Q2 Add to Questions about Economic Progress
15 U.S. Industrial Production Stalled in August
15 U.S. CPI Rose An Expected 0.2%
14 U.S. Import Prices Strong
14 U.S. Business Inventory Accumulation Up
14 Labor Force and Employment Gains Strong in Australia; Unemployment Hovers Near Record Low
14 U.S. Budget Deficit Deteriorated As Expected
14 U.S. Retail Sales Gain Light; Gasoline Prices Fell
14 Initial Claims for Jobless Insurance Fell Unexpectedly
13 UK Claimant Count Eases, Bringing Good News to Politicians, But Broader Unemployment and Employment Change Little
13 Mortgage Applications For Home Purchase Up
12 More Signs of Trouble Ahead for the Japanese Economy
12 Small Business Optimism At A Three Year Low
12 U.S. Chain Store Sales Slip Despite Lower Gasoline Prices
12 Record U.S. Foreign Trade Deficit Swelled By Higher Oil Prices
11 Japanese Machinery Orders Tumble in July
11 OECD Leaders Slip A Third Month
8 Canada Labor Market Pause into 3rd Month
8 August U.S. Vehicle Sales Reversed July's Gain
7 July Industrial Production Expands in Germany & Hungary; Industry Remains Pillar of Growth
7 Initial Jobless Insurance Claims Fell
6 How Much Does It Cost To Produce Heat?
6 U.S. Mortgage Applications Recovered
6 U.S. Chain Store Sales Up Again, Gasoline Prices Down Sharply
6 ISM Nonmanufacturing Index Improved
6 2Q U.S. Productivity Revised Up, Compensation Surged
5 Retail Trade Volume in the Euro Zone and the European Union:  The Gap Continues to Widen
5 Challenger Layoffs Back Up
5 Home Prices: Sporadic Regional Declines
5 U.S. Construction Spending Drop Largest Since 2001
1 Commodity Prices Moderate in Australia After Explosion in Metals Sector
1 U.S. Consumer Sentiment Firmed in Late August
1 ISM Index About Stable, Prices Down
1 U.S. Payrolls On Target
August 2006
31 Consumer Confidence Falls in UK with Rising Concern over Economic Outlook
31 Help-Wanted Advertising: How Low Can It Go?
31 U.S. Factory Inventories Again Firm
31 Initial Claims for Jobless Insurance Dip
31 U.S. Personal Income Again Up 0.6%, Core Price Inflation Eased
30 Summer Retail Sales Slow in Japan & Italy, Firmer in Norway & Slovenia
30 ADP Nat'l Employment Report: Growth Stable & Slower
30 Mortgage Applications Portend Further Weakness in Housing
30 US GDP Growth Revised Up, Profit Growth Slowed
29 Japanese Household's Living Expenditures 
29 Consumer Confidence Fell Sharply
29 Weekly Chain Store Sales Up, Gasoline Prices Down
28 Strong Increases in Wages in Estonia and Lithuania: Improved Confidence in Slovenia and Slovakia
28 Railcar Loadings, Truck Tonnage & Air Freight
25 New CPI Shows Smaller Upturn in Japanese Inflation
25 Monetary Policy's Posture: Many "Buts"
24 Poland Employment Gains; Unemployment Down, but Still Very High
24 New Home Sales Down, Inventory Ballooned
24 U.S. Durable Goods Firm Despite Volatile Aircraft
24 Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance Dip
23 Japan Trade Surplus Helped by More Car Exports, Flatter Oil Imports
23 U.S. Existing Home Sales Down
23 Mortgage Applications Lackluster, Rates Down
23 Chicago Fed Nat'l Activity & Richmond Fed Mfg. Indexes Down
23 Mass Layoffs Up Again
22 Confidence in the Future among German Investors and Analysts Dips Sharply
22 "For the CPI excluding everything, inflation is zero."  
22 Weekly Chain Store Sales Slip With Gasoline Prices
21 Are German Wage Increases Beginning to Have an Effect on Inflation?
21 Oil & Gold Prices Down. A Trend Reversal?
18 Brazil's Large Exports Yield Record Current Account Surplus in July
18 U.S. Consumer Sentiment Sagged
18 Philadelphia Fed Index Highest Since 2005
17 German Employment Grows in Q2 -- and So Does Productivity
17 Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance Reverse Increase
17 Leading Economic Indicators Dipped, Again
16 Q2 GDP Eases in Greece & Falls in the Palestinian Territories But Gains in Israel
16 Industrial Production Up With Temperatures
16 July Housing Starts Down Further
16 Mortgage Applications Up With More Refinancings
16 Core CPI Moderate As Energy Costs Jumped, Again
15 Turkey's Leading Composite Indicators and Business Confidence: Harbingers of Lower Growth?
15 NAHB Housing Market Index Continues to Drop
15 PPI Tame, Core Falls
15 Empire State Index Lower in August
14 European Commission Predicts Strong GDP Growth in the Euro Zone to Continue
11 European Countries' GDP Posting Strong Q2 Gains as Expected
11 U.S. Business Inventories Gain
11 U.S. Import Prices Up 0.9%
11 U.S. Retail Sales Larger than Expected 
10 July U.S. Budget Deficit Better Than Expected
10 U.S. Foreign Trade Deficit Improved Slightly
10 U.S. Initial Jobless Claims Up Again
9 JOLTS: Job Hires and Separations Down
8 Federal Funds Rate Steady at 5.25%
8 Industrial Production Falters in Germany: Forges Ahead in Turkey, Hungary and Slovakia 
8 Small Business Optimism Recovered
8 Weekly Chain Store Sales Slipped As Gasoline Prices Rose
8 2Q U.S. Productivity Up 1.1%, Costs Accelerated
7 Japan's Business Cycle Indicators 
7 Forecast: Investment Spending on the Wane
4 Pause in Canada Labor Market Advance
4 U.S. Payrolls & Wages Moderate
3 CPI Inflation in Turkey & Macedonia: Up, but Not High
3 Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance Rose
3 ISM Nonmanufacturing Index Off
3 U.S. Factory Inventory Accumulation Strong
2 Local Employment Data Show Gulf Port Cities Still Struggle 9 Months After Katrina, But Houston Gains
2 ADP Nat'l Employment Report: Slower Job Growth in July
2 U.S. Vehicle Sales Up, But Struggle Against Incentives Last Year
2 Mortgage Applications Down Further
1 Euro Zone 2nd Quarter GDP Annual Rate of Growth May Exceed the 2.46% of the U. S.
1 ISM Index Recovered in July
1 U.S. Construction Spending Supported By Nonresidential
1 Challenger Layoffs Lowest Since 2000
1 Weekly Chain Store Sales Up Moderately
1 U.S. Personal Income Up 0.6% As Expected
July 2006
31 More Positive Indicators for Japan:  Production, Shipments and Inventories
31 Chicago Surveys of Factory Activity Mixed
31 More Readings of 2Q Price Inflation
28 Japan Labor Data Ease in June, But Conditions Remain Positive
28 U.S. Consumer Sentiment Improved in Late July
28 Gain in the U.S. Employment Cost Index Accelerated
28 U.S. GDP Growth Slowed
27 Low Unemployment in Nordic Countries
27 U.S. New Home Sales & Prices Fell
27 U.S. Durable Goods Orders Surged
27 U.S. Initial Jobless Insurance Claims Fell Further
27 U.S. Help-Wanted Advertising Remained Low
26 UK CBI Industrial Trends Survey Yields Mixed Picture
26 U.S. Mortgage Applications Wilt Under Summer Heat
26 Chicago Fed Nat'l Activity & Richmond Fed Factory Indexes Up
25 Consumer and Business Confidence Measures in France, Italy and the Netherlands
25 U.S. Consumer Confidence Improved Unexpectedly
25 Price Concessions Support U.S. Existing Home Sales
25 Modest Gains in Weekly U.S. Chain Store Sales Leave Month Short
24 South Korea Trade in Goods:  Small Deficit in Won Terms in June, Terms of Trade Continue Unfavorable
24 ECRI Leading Index Flat During 2006
21 UK GDP: Unexpected Pick-Up in Q2 Growth
21 Regional Fed Bank Surveys Indicate Slower Growth
20 Egypt's Current Account Surplus Boosted by Large Canal Tolls, Tourism and Petroleum; Direct Investment Gains
20 Philadelphia Fed Business Activity Index Lowest Since January
20 Leading Economic Indicators Nudged Higher
20 Mass Layoffs Rose in June and During 2Q
20 Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance At One Month Low
19 Building Plans Moderate in South Africa, but Recent Strength Puts Plans Well Ahead of Completions
19 NAHB Housing Market Index Lowest Since 1991
19 Mortgage Applications Confirm Housing Soft in July
19 June Housing Starts Fell More Than Expected
19 Core CPI Firmer Than Expected
18 More German Investors Confident about Current Conditions but Many More Wary of the Future
18 June PPI Firm & Core Tame M/M, Pricing Trends Elevated
18 Gasoline Prices Rose Last Week
17 Monitoring the Economic Effects of the Middle East Conflict
17 Empire State Index Slipped During July
17 June Industrial Production Rebounded
14 Bank of Japan Raises Key Interest Rates
14 U.S. Consumer Sentiment Sagged
14 Import Prices Up Just 0.1%
14 U.S. Business Inventories Gain
14 U.S. Retail Sales Lower Due To Weakness in Autos & Housing
14 MAPI Business Outlook Survey Off Moderately
13 June CPI Stays Low in France & Germany
13 June U.S. Budget Surplus As Expected
13 Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims Increased
12 UK Labor Market Data Show Rising Unemployment But Stable Employment & Firm Wages
12 U.S. Int'l Trade Deficit Deepened Less Than Expected
12 Mortgage Applications Up, Rates Stable
11 Japanese Consumer Sentiment Wavers:  Price Expectations Suggest that Concern over Inflation Is Replacing that over Deflation 
11 Small Business Optimism Continued Lower
11 Chain Store Sales Rose Slightly
11 Gasoline Prices Up With Demand
10 May Industrial Production Up Sharply in France and Greece, Less So in Sweden and Turkey, but the Latter Two Show Greater Long Term Growth 
10 OECD Leaders Slip, North America Down
7 Chile & Copper: Higher Prices Boost Exports & Trade Balance
7 Growth in U.S. Payrolls Moderate, Wages Jump
6 Mortgage Equity Withdrawal Stages Partial Recovery in Both US and UK; UK House Prices Moderating
6 U.S. Factory Inventory Accumulation Stalled in May
6 ISM Nonmanufacturing Index Down
6 Challenger Layoffs Rose
6 Mortgage Applications Up, Rates Fell
6 Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance Fell
5 U.S. Vehicle Sales Up a Bit
5 High & Dry: June Temperature Near Record and Rainfall Well Below Average
5 Chain Store Sales Fell Again, Gasoline Prices Rose
5 ADP Nat'l Employment Report Indicates Strength in June
3 Japan's "TANKAN" Steady at Higher Readings; High Investment Forecast Adds to Expectations of Hike in BoJ Interest Rate
3 U.S. Construction Spending Off Again
3 ISM Index Disappointing Again in June, but Orders Up
June 2006
30 Japan Employment Hesitates, But Remains High; Unemployment Rate at 8-Year Low
30 U.S. Consumers' Spirits Rose Further as Inflation Expectations Fell
30 U.S. Personal Income Firm, Prices Tame
29 Fed Funds Rate Increased to 5.25%
29 Hesitant Improvement in German Labor Markets; Employment Still Flat, but Job Vacancies Are Increasing
29 Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims Again Up Slightly
29 Help-Wanted Advertising Lowest Since 1961
29 US GDP & Profits Revised Up for 1Q. Price Gain Easier
28 Wider Current Account Deficit in Lithuania; Slight Improvement in Bosnia & Herzegovina
28 Mortgage Applications Fell Hard, Rates Above 7%
27 Business Confidence in Europe Still Strong in Spite of Euro Strength, High Oil Prices and Rising Interest Rates
27 U.S. Existing Home Sales Decline As Expected
27 Consumer Confidence Improved A Bit
27 Chain Store Sales Fell
26 Business Confidence Strengthens in Belgium  But Weakens in France
26 New Home Sales Continued Firm
23 Poland Unemployment Rate at 4-Year Low
23 U.S. Durable Goods Orders Off Slightly
22 Refinery Gasoline Production Reaches Record in New Seasonally Adjusted Weekly Data
22 Leading Economic Indicators Down Third Month in Four
22 Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance Up Slightly
21 Gold Prices Crater, Oil Off a Bit But Inflation Pressure Up
21 Japanese Business Confidence Diminishes Ahead of Possible Rate Hike
21 Mortgage Applications Dip, # of Unsold Homes Soar
20 Employment Situation in Italy Improves: Foreign New Orders up Sharply
20 Chain Store Sales Stable As Gas Prices Fell
20 Housing Starts Rebound
20 NAHB Housing Market Index Down Again
19 Euro Zone Trade Deficit Increases in April: Rising Cost of Petroleum Imports the Culprit
19 Empire State Index Recovered in June
16 Philadelphia Fed Business Activity Dipped
16 U.S. Consumers Felt a Little Better in Early June
16 U.S. Current Account Deficit Narrowed Unexpectedly
15 Industrial Production Lower in May
15 Initial Jobless Insurance Claims Drop Again
14 Mortgage Applications Recovered Last Week
14 CPI Rising More Quickly
13 U.S. Budget Deficit Deeper
13 German Investors Lose Confidence in Economic Outlook, While Industrialists Remain Sanguine 
13 Small Business Optimism Back Down, Pricing Power Firm
13 Chain Store Sales Recover
13 Gasoline Prices Rose Again, Demand Down Y/Y
13 U.S. Retail Sales Increase As Expected
13 PPI Tame, Core firm
12 More Uncomfortable Signs of Inflation:  German Wholesale Prices
12 OECD Leaders Up Again
9 UK Trade Deficit Stabilizes in April; Fuel Turns a Slight Surplus
9 1Q Debt Debt Growth Fastest Y/Y Since 1999
9 April U.S. Trade Deficit Deepened Less Than Expected
9 Import Prices Jumped; Excl. Oil Strength in Industrial Materials
8 Central Banks in Many Countries Raise Base Rates
8 Initial Jobless Insurance Claims Fell To Two Month Low
7 Austria's Wholesale Prices: Some Evidence of Mounting Inflation Pressure, but Clothing and Capital Goods Are Notable Exceptions
7 Inflation Expectations Rise
7 Mortgage Applications Fell Further
6 Good News for the Service Industries in the Euro Zone from the May PMI Surveys
6 JOLTS: Job Openings Steady, Hires Rate Down
6 Chain Store Sales Stabilize
6 Gasoline Prices Rose Last Week