Economy in Brief: 2007

Existing homes sales had been expected to drop in February. Instead they jumped by 3.9% and that was after a gain of 2.7% in January. What’s up? Housing starts were off sharply in January then up in February but existing home sales [...]

Retail sales in South Africa grew 9.4% in constant 2000 prices in January from a year ago, a resumption of stronger growth after December's gain slowed to 6.7%. For all of 2006, sales were up 9.6%. In current prices, they rose 15.6% [...]

Retail sales in South Africa grew 9.4% in constant 2000 prices in January from a year ago, a resumption of stronger growth after December's gain slowed to 6.7%. For all of 2006, sales were up 9.6%. In current prices, they rose 15.6% [...]

Retail trade in Canada eased 0.2% in January after surging 2.2% in December. The result year-on-year was up 4.9%, a bit slower than the overall gains during 2005 and 2006. However, the January decline was concentrated in the [...]

Retail trade in Canada eased 0.2% in January after surging 2.2% in December. The result year-on-year was up 4.9%, a bit slower than the overall gains during 2005 and 2006. However, the January decline was concentrated in the [...]

Inflation, as measured by the year over year increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 2.78%, nine basis point over January, but still below December's high of 2.97%. This is the measure that the Bank of England focuses on in [...]

Inflation, as measured by the year over year increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 2.78%, nine basis point over January, but still below December's high of 2.97%. This is the measure that the Bank of England focuses on in [...]

February department store sales in Japan, which are not seasonally adjusted, were 1.15% above those of February 2006, the highest year to year increase since last March. While the year to year increase is reassuring, it does not [...]