Economy in Brief: 2017

The ISM composite index of factory sector activity increased to 56.0 during January from 54.5 in December, initially reported as 54.7. It was highest reading since November 2014. Expectations called for 55.0 in the Action Economics [...]

The statistical variation among the values of the countries that have reported their manufacturing indices has widened again this month. The dispersion has been greater than it is in January only 6% of the time since 1991. The most [...]

The ADP/Moody's National Employment Report indicated that private nonfarm payroll employment increased 246,000 (1.8% y/y) during January following a 151,000 December gain, revised from 153,000. The increase compared to expectations [...]

The Chicago Purchasing Managers Business Barometer Index declined to 50.3 in January after a fall to 53.9 in December. The latest figure was the lowest since May. The January reading disappointed expectations for 55.0 in the Action [...]

The European Monetary Union (EMU) is at one of those crucial policy crossroads where priorities begin to shift. So far, the ECB is holding fast onto its old program of economic stimulus. But unemployment has now fallen to a seven-year [...]

The Conference Board Index of Consumer Confidence indicated that its headline consumer confidence index for January declined to 111.8, following its December rise to a 15-year high. Also, December's reading was revised down slightly [...]

The employment cost index for civilian workers rose 0.5% (2.2% y/y) during Q4'16, down slightly from the 0.6% Q3 gain. A 0.6% rise had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Wages and salaries increased 0.5% (2.4% y/y) [...]

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas indicated in its Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey that the General Business Activity Index surged to 22.1 during January, the strongest reading since March 2010. Most of the survey indicators [...]