Economy in Brief: 2009

The UK MFG sector weakened further in February. The total orders index is at its lowest since 2000 as is the export order reading. Stocks of finished goods have never had a higher reading. Looking ahead the expected outlook over the [...]

It now is more than clear that the pace of the downturn in the U.S. housing market has accelerated. The latest Commerce Department figures indicate that in January starts fell to 466,000 (AR), another record low in the series' history [...]

It now is more than clear that the pace of the downturn in the U.S. housing market has accelerated. The latest Commerce Department figures indicate that in January starts fell to 466,000 (AR), another record low in the series' history [...]

The Housing Market Index (HMI) from the National Association of Home Builders ticked up this month after having reached the record low in January. At nine the figure still was, however, less than half the year-ago figure. The index is [...]

While German investors continue to see current economic conditions getting worse, they have begun to be less negative on the outlook. The German government has approved an 80 billion euro ($102 billion) stimulus program to be spent [...]

Recession has hit the Euro Area trade flows hard as exports already lower by 6.8% lower in November fell by another 0.9% in December. But imports that fell by 4.8% on November fell by a further-chilling 3.9% in December. The [...]

The February Empire State Index of manufacturing sector activity, reported by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, fell to a new low for the series which dates back to 2001. The figure of -34.65 was down from -22.20 in January and it [...]

The February Empire State Index of manufacturing sector activity, reported by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, fell to a new low for the series which dates back to 2001. The figure of -34.65 was down from -22.20 in January and it [...]