Economy in Brief

Natural gas prices declined to the lowest level since August. At $2.69 per mmbtu last week, prices have fallen from $3.15 just two weeks ago, and equaled the lowest level since mid-August. They remained up, however, by nearly one- [...]

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas reported that its general activity index of factory sector activity in Texas remained slightly negative in October. The figure at -1.5, however, was improved versus the low of -34.6 in January. The [...]

The Chicago Purchasing Managers Business Barometer Index fell to 50.6 during October following an unrevised increase to 54.2 during September. The latest was the lowest level since May. The figure compared to expectations for 53.8 in [...]

German retail sales (excluding autos) fell off sharply in September as the largest drop in two years was logged. This came on the same day when EMU-area GDP growth was reported to have steadied on the quarter and amid a rise in [...]

Consumer spending recovered last month following a brief pullback. Personal consumption expenditures increased 0.5% (3.7% y/y) after a 0.1% dip during August. The gain matched expectations in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. [...]

The employment cost index for civilian workers increased 0.6% (2.2% y/y) during Q3'16 for the third straight quarter. The rise matched expectations in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Wages and salaries increased 0.5% (2.4% y/y) [...]

Economic growth improved to 2.9% (1.5% y/y) during Q3'16 following a 1.4% Q2 rise. It was the strongest increase in two years. A 2.5% rise had been expected in the Action Economic Forecast Survey. Improvement in the foreign trade [...]

The EU Commission monthly indices that chronicle gains in the EU and EMU areas show a rise in the EU area index to 106.9 in October from 105.5 in September. The 1.3% monthly rise is less than last month's 1.6% gain; otherwise it is [...]