Economy in Brief: 2009

During February the consumer price index (CPI-U) rose for the first month since July, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 0.3% gain followed drops of 0.8% and 1.7% during December and November. Due to those earlier [...]

The U.S. labor market continued quite weak as the Labor Department indicated that initial claims for unemployment insurance remained stable last at 627,000. The prior week's figure was revised up slightly. The latest level again [...]

For January, the Conference Board reported that the composite index of leading economic indicators rose 0.4% after a revised 0.2% December increase. The peak index level occurred in July of last year and the six-month rate of decline [...]

Italy’s exports fell in December but imports plunged helping to boost the trade account and to shift the balance of trade on goods into surplus in December. Italy’s current account deficit is still on a deteriorating trend, even with [...]

U.S. producer prices for finished goods rose 0.8% during January following five consecutive months of sharp decline. Despite the latest monthly increase, however, the year-to-year change of -1.3% was the softest since late 2002. A [...]

U.S. producer prices for finished goods rose 0.8% during January following five consecutive months of sharp decline. Despite the latest monthly increase, however, the year-to-year change of -1.3% was the softest since late 2002. A [...]

The U.S. factory sector remained severely depressed last month. Industrial production during January fell 1.8% after the 2.4% drop during December which was revised deeper from the initial report. Last month's decline about matched [...]

The worldwide recession continued to dampen pricing power last month. Overall U.S. import prices fell another 1.1% during January after a 5.0% December decline that was deeper than reported initially. The latest drop about matched [...]