Economy in Brief: 2019

The labor market firmed during November. Nonfarm payroll employment increased 266,000 (1.5% y/y) after rising 156,000 in October, revised from 128,000. September employment rose 193,000, revised from 180,000. A 184,000 November [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell 10,000 to 203,000 (-11.4% y/y) during the week ending November 30. The previous week was unrevised at 213,000. This was the smallest amount since 193,000 in the April 13 week. The Action [...]

Factory orders improved 0.3% (-1.2% y/y) during October following a 0.8% September decline, revised from 0.6%. The increase matched expectations in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Orders for durable goods rose 0.5% (-0.9% y/y), [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell 10,000 to 203,000 (-11.4% y/y) during the week ending November 30. The previous week was unrevised at 213,000. This was the smallest amount since 193,000 in the April 13 week. The Action [...]

The U.S. trade deficit in goods and services declined to $47.20 billion during October from $51.10 billion in September, revised from $52.45 billion. It was the smallest deficit since May 2018. A $48.7 billion deficit had been [...]

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that its Mortgage Loan Index slumped 9.2% w/w (+50.5% y/y) in the week ending November 29 after edging up 1.5% w/w in the previous week. Applications to refinance a loan led the overall [...]

The Composite Index of Nonmanufacturing Sector Activity from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) declined to 53.9 during November from 54.7 in October. The figure compared to the high of 60.8 in September 2018. A reading of 54.5 [...]

The ADP National Employment Report indicated that private nonfarm payrolls rose 67,000 (1.5% y/y) during November following a 121,000 October increase, revised from 125,000. The gain fell below expectations for a 140,000 rise in the [...]