Economy in Brief

Nonfarm payrolls increased 151,000 during January following gains of 262,000 during December and 280,000 in November. Revisions subtracted a net 2,000 jobs in these two months. Expectations had been for a 198,000 rise in the Action [...]

The U.S. foreign trade deficit increased to $43.4 billion in December from November's $42.2 billion, which was revised from $42.4 billion. The December result was modestly larger than the Action Economics Forecast Survey estimate of [...]

In December, total orders in Germany fell by 0.7%. Foreign orders rose for the third consecutive month after falling for three months in a row. Year-over-year foreign orders remain as the weaker of the two series. Domestic orders fell [...]

Nonfarm payrolls increased 151,000 during January following increases of 262,000 during December and 280,000 in November. These revisions subtracted a net 2,000 jobs. Expectations had been for a 198,000 rise in the Action Economic [...]

The outplacement firm of Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported that job cut announcements during January jumped to 75,114 (41.6% y/y) following the prior month's unrevised decline to 23,622. The latest was the highest level of in six [...]

New orders in the manufacturing sector fell 2.9% during December following a 0.7% easing in November, revised from -0.2%. The decline roughly matched expectations for a 2.7% drop in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. The shortfall [...]

New vehicle registrations in Japan fell by 2.5% in January as they continue to gyrate with offsetting up down movements for the third consecutive month. On balance, registrations are higher over three months but lower over six months [...]

Nonfarm output per hour declined 3.0% at an annual rate (+0.3% y/y) during Q4'15 following a 2.1% Q3 increase. A 1.8% decline had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. It was the third decline in the last five [...]