Economy in Brief

The value of construction put-in-place improved 0.3% during March (8.6% y/y) following a 1.0% February increase, revised from -0.5%. January's 0.3% decline was revised from a 2.1% rise. A 0.5% increase was expected in the Action [...]

The ISM Composite Index of manufacturing activity posted a sharp decline to 50.8 during April. The move reversed much of a rise to an unrevised 51.8 in March, and disappointed expectations for 51.3 in the Action Economics Forecast [...]

In these early reporting EMU countries (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, and the Netherlands), the manufacturing PMIs are lower in three in April (France, Austria, and the Netherlands). Only two were lower in March (France and [...]

A firmer job market is lending strength to earnings power. Personal income increased 0.4% during March (4.2% y/y) following a 0.1% uptick in February, revised from 0.2%. A 0.3% increase had been expected in the Action Economics [...]

Chicago purchasing managers reported that their Business Barometer Index declined to 50.4 this month following a jump to 53.6 in March. The latest reading fell short of expectations for 53.0 in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. [...]

The employment cost index for civilian workers increased 0.6% (1.9% y/y) during Q1'16 following a 0.5% rise. The latest gain was as expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Wages increased 0.7% (2.0% y/y) after a 0.5% rise, [...]

A firmer job market is lending strength to earnings power. Personal income increased 0.4% during March (4.2% y/y) following a 0.1% uptick in February, revised from 0.2%. A 0.3% increase had been expected in the Action Economics [...]

EMU unemployment fell to 10.2% in March after being stuck at 10.4% for three consecutive months. The EU rate fell to 8.8% in March after being steady at 8.9% in each of the two previous months. Most impressive is the cross-sectional [...]