Economy in Brief: 2016

The Conference Board reported that its Consumer Confidence index for November increased 6.3% (15.7% y/y) to 107.1, the highest level since July 2007. October's level was revised up to 100.8 from 98.6. A rise to 101.1 in November had [...]

Economic growth was revised higher to 3.2% (1.6% y/y) during the third quarter, up from the advance estimate of a 2.9% gain. It was the strongest increase in two years, and exceeded the estimate of 3.0% growth in the Action Economics [...]

The EU Commission indices for November showed a pick up on the month and the highest EU index in 11 months. The EMU area index ticked higher to 106.5 in November from 106.4 in October; its highest reading in 11 months as well. The EU [...]

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas indicated in its Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey that the General Business Activity index jumped to 10.2 during November, following negative readings extending back to December 2015. The worst of [...]

After looking at all the monetary stimulus and special lending programs that the ECB has unleashed then turning to look at these charts, you have to wonder if money even matters. Clearly to some, such a statement is anathema. But such [...]

Italy is showing some weakening economic trends ahead of its early December referendum. And while everyone is still buzzing about Brexit and the Trump election in the U.S., the Fed continues to talk of potential Brexit risks as though [...]

EMU PMIs make a push for the mediocre levels of readings that prevailed earlier in this cycle. The EMU is improving and the very weak readings of 2016 are being put behind it. Still, there is a long way to go to reach true normalcy [...]

Sales of new single-family homes during October declined 1.9% (+17.8% y/y) to 563,000 (AR) from 574,000 sales in September, revised from 593,000. Sales of 590,000 had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. The decline [...]