Economy in Brief: 2007

Announced job cuts reported by Challenger, Grey & Christmas in January rose 15.2% to 62,975 and reversed about half of the prior month's decline. The three month moving average of layoff announcements nevertheless declined to 64,797, [...]

The U.S. federal government ran a surplus of $38.2B during January, nearly double the surplus of $21B during January 2006. The monthly figure was near Consensus expectations for a surplus of $40B. Analysts' forecasts of the Federal [...]

The Leading Index of the major 7 OECD economies rose 0.2% in December after a like gain during November. The index's six-month growth rate for December was 1.2%, up from 1.1% reported a month ago. There were scattered minor revisions [...]

The Leading Index of the major 7 OECD economies rose 0.2% in December after a like gain during November. The index's six-month growth rate for December was 1.2%, up from 1.1% reported a month ago. There were scattered minor revisions [...]

With increasing attention to "climate change", some very simple data take on more prominence. The National Climatic Data Center, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the Commerce Department, maintains [...]

Initial unemployment insurance claims inched up 3,000 last week to 311,000 after a little revised 19,000 decline the week prior. The figure about matched Consensus expectations for 310,000 claims. During the last ten years there has [...]

Initial unemployment insurance claims inched up 3,000 last week to 311,000 after a little revised 19,000 decline the week prior. The figure about matched Consensus expectations for 310,000 claims. During the last ten years there has [...]

European industry is trying hard to grow and some sectors are more successful than others, according to data for December 2006 reported today by various statistical agencies. German production fell by 0.7% after a 1.8% surge in [...]