Economy in Brief

The Institute for Supply Management reported that, for New York State, their December index of business conditions expected in six months increased to 72.9, the highest level since February. Improved expectations were forming [...]

The Institute for Supply Management reported that, for New York State, their December index of business conditions expected in six months increased to 72.9, the highest level since February. Improved expectations were forming [...]

The value of construction put-in-place decreased 0.3% (2.4% y/y) during November after a 1.2% advance in October, revised from 1.1%; the September move was revised more noticeably, to a 0.6% increase from a 0.1% decline. The November [...]

Weakness is a problem for the European Monetary Union and it has been a problem of increasing magnitude - if not worry- over the course of 2014. But a bigger problem for EMU is divergence. In 2013 the divergence among EMU member [...]

The ISM Report on Business Manufacturing Index decreased 3.2 points in December to 55.5 from November's 58.7, indicating somewhat slower but still expanding activity in the manufacturing sector. Expectations in the Action Economics [...]

Pending sales of single-family homes rose 0.8% in November (+4.1% y/y) following a slightly revised 1.2% decrease in October, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). These sales are reported as an index with 2001 = [...]

Initial unemployment insurance claims during the week ended December 27 rose to 298,000 (-13.4% y/y) after declining to 281,000 in the prior week, revised marginally from 280,000. The four-week moving average of initial claims thus [...]

With the European Monetary Union grappling with inflation and unsure what to do next, in some countries, the decision seems clearer than in others. Unfortunately, EMU monetary policy is one for all and all for one. In the chart, we [...]