Economy in Brief

EU unemployment was steady in May as the same 9.6% rate as in April. EMU unemployment was steady at 11.1%. The number of unemployed continues to fall in both the EMU and the EU but not enough to lower the month-to-month unemployment [...]

Gasoline prices eased last week to an average $2.80 per gallon at the pump (-24.4% y/y) but remained higher than the low of $2.04 late in January. Haver Analytics constructs factors adjusting for the seasonal variation in pump prices. [...]

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas reported that its June Composite index of factory sector activity improved to -7.0 during June, its least negative reading since January. The figure reflected modest improvement in production, [...]

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that pending sales of single-family homes increased 0.9% during May following a little revised 2.7% gain during April. The latest level was the highest since April 2006. Expectations [...]

The EU and EMU indices of overall sentiment fell in June. The EU index fell to 105.5 from 106.4. The EMU index fell to 103.5 from 103.8 in May. Three of five EU indices are still giving net negative signals. Four of five indicators [...]

Money growth in the EMU has slowed in May and over three months, but its three-month growth rate is still above its 12-month pace. Money growing at 6.5% in the low-growth slow-inflation EMU represents an improvement of sorts in [...]

The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City reported that the rate of deterioration in manufacturing business activity lessened during June. The Composite index of 10th District factory sector activity improved to -9 from -13. The reading [...]

A firmer labor market was behind today's report of strong personal spending and income. Initial unemployment insurance claims remained near the cycle low in the latest week. A small rise to 271,000 during the week of June 20 left the [...]