Economy in Brief: January 2008

The U.S. foreign trade deficit deepened to $63.1B in November from an unrevised $57.8B during October. Consensus expectations had been for a deficit of $60.0B. During the first eleven months of 2007 the deficit averaged $59.1B versus [...]

The U.S. foreign trade deficit deepened to $63.1B in November from an unrevised $57.8B during October. Consensus expectations had been for a deficit of $60.0B. During the first eleven months of 2007 the deficit averaged $59.1B versus [...]

French IP sank by more than excepted dropping by 1.5% in November. We can thank a French rail strike for some of this weakness. It’s one of the reasons the declines spread across sectors - the rail strike hit all sectors. But in the [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance unexpectedly fell 15,000 last week to 322,000. The 20,000 decline during the prior week was little revised. The latest level was the lowest in two months, although seasonal adjustment [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance unexpectedly fell 15,000 last week to 322,000. The 20,000 decline during the prior week was little revised. The latest level was the lowest in two months, although seasonal adjustment [...]

MFG output fell in November after a rise of 0.1% in October and a flat September. Amid other circumstances this might seem a very chilling set of numbers. With this weakness the Q4 path for IP two months into the quarter is a pace of [...]

So much for strong German orders…. there is no carry over to the consumer. Retail sales in Germany are a disaster. We are 10 months away from the phase in of the VAT hike in January of 2007. That is why the Yr/Yr decline is still so [...]

German real new orders are flying high again in November after another surprising spurt in October. After the October rise, a drop off in November orders had been expected - quite the opposite is the result. Orders are now growing at [...]