Economy in Brief

Inventories at the wholesale level during November jumped 0.8% following a 0.6% October rise, earlier reported as 0.4%. Durable goods inventories led the gain with a 0.8% increase (7.1% y/y). It reflected a 2.6% rise (15.1% y/y) in [...]

Of the eight early reporting EMU nations, three show output drops in November with Finland's output flat. However, over three months, there is still solid to strong output gains from this group of countries. Industrial output in the [...]

The job market remains firm. Nonfarm payroll jobs grew 2.527 million (1.9%) last year, the strongest increase since 2000. Moreover, the 252,000 rise during December (2.1% y/y) followed upwardly revised gains of 353,000 and 261,000 [...]

The job market remains firm. Nonfarm payroll jobs grew 2.527 million (1.9%) last year, the strongest increase since 2000. Moreover, the 252,000 rise during December (2.1% y/y) followed upwardly revised gains of 353,000 and 261,000 [...]

Consumer credit outstanding increased $14.1 billion during November following an upwardly revised $16.0 billion October rise, initially reported as $13.2 billion. Expectations were for a $15.0 billion increase, according to the Action [...]

The year 2014 ends with the overall EU index at 104.2 and the index for the EMU at 100.7. These are not solid readings; the one for the EMU is especially lacking. However, both metrics are roughly stable month to month. In the table, [...]

The outplacement firm of Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported that job cut announcements fell to 32,640 (+6.6% y/y) during December from 35,940 in November. It was the lowest layoff level in three months. For all of 2014, layoffs [...]

Initial unemployment insurance claims during the week ended January 3 fell to 294,000 (-11.7% y/y) after rising to an unrevised 298,000 in the prior week. The four-week moving average of initial claims was fairly steady at 290,500. [...]