Economy in Brief

The International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs reported that chain store sales ticked 0.1% higher last week following a sharp 2.6% decline during the prior week. They strengthened, however, by 4.1% y/y due to declines [...]

The price for a gallon of regular gasoline declined to $3.35 last week (-4.1% y/y) and remained at the lowest level since mid-February. To account for seasonal patterns, Haver Analytics constructs factors for adjustment of pump [...]

The U.S. House Price Index from the Federal Housing and Finance Agency (FHFA) ticked 0.1% higher (4.5% y/y) during July following a 0.3% June gain, revised from 0.4%. The latest increase was the weakest in three months and lowered the [...]

The euro area continues to struggle in September with its flash private sector gauge falling to 52.3 from 52.8 August. This is the lowest flash value for the index since December 2013. While the six-month average is still above the [...]

Sales of existing single-family homes declined 2.4% to 5.050 million (AR) during August (-5.3% y/y) from 5.140 million in July, last month reported as 5.150 million. Sales were 6.3% below the peak reached last July. The latest level [...]

Both Italian foreign and domestic orders fell in July. Foreign orders have fallen for three consecutive months. Domestic orders have fallen in two of the last three months. The trends in orders are not reassuring either. Italian [...]

The Chicago Federal Reserve reported that its National Activity Index (CFNAI) for August eased to -0.21 from a downwardly revised 0.26 in July. The latest level was the first negative reading since January. The three-month moving [...]

The Index of Leading Economic Indicators, from the Conference Board, gained 0.2% during August (6.8% y/y) following a revised 1.1% July rise. The latest improvement was the least since January's slight decline. The series was, [...]