Economy in Brief: 2017

EMU industrial output spurted by 1.5% in November, more than expected but only after October's dismal 0.1% gain. The headline series (EMU IP excluding construction) shows a weaker growth rate 3.4% over three months compared to its [...]

The Industrial Materials Price Index from the Foundation for International Business and Economic Research (FIBER) increased 0.7% during the last four weeks and has risen 20.3% during the last twelve months. This follows strength [...]

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that its total Mortgage Market Volume Index jumped 5.8% last week (-4.8% y/y) following a 0.1% uptick during the week prior. Purchase applications surged 6.1% (4.7% y/y) while refinancing [...]

There is no magic in the OECD leading indicators this month. Yet, there is some positive momentum in play. The OECD likes to look at these indicators compared to six months ago so we provide a view of six-month changes and levels in [...]

Inventories at the wholesale level jumped 1.0% (1.6% y/y) during November following a revised -0.1% dip, initially reported as -0.4%. The advance report indicated a 1.3% November increase. Inventories of durable goods increased 1.0% [...]

Regular gasoline prices of $2.39 per gallon (19.6% y/y) last week edged up from $2.38 per gallon in the prior week. Haver Analytics constructs factors adjusting for the seasonal variation in these pump prices. Weakness in gasoline [...]

The total job openings rate of 3.7% during November was improved from October's 3.6%, revised from 3.7%. It remained down from the record high of 3.9% in July. The private-sector job openings rate held steady, however, at 3.9%. It was [...]

Japan's consumer confidence, a diffusion measure, rose sharply month-to-month, regaining the ground it lost on the previous month's sharp drop. Despite the jump, there is little lift in the series that lingers below the neutral mark [...]