Economy in Brief: 2019

The Philadelphia Federal Reserve reported that its General Factory Sector Business Conditions Index increased to 17.0 during January, the highest level in three months. The Action Economics Forecast Survey median estimate was 10.0. [...]

Initial claims for jobless insurance eased to 213,000 (-2.6% y/y) during the week ended January 12 from an unrevised 216,000 during the prior week. The Action Economics Forecast Survey expected 223,000 claims. The four-week moving [...]

Inflation in the EMU, in its largest economies, and in the U.K., remains subdued. While French headline inflation is still right at its most acceptable level at a 1.9% pace, its progressive growth rates make it clear that it is [...]

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that its total Mortgage Applications Index increased 13.5% (1.4% y/y) during the week ended January 11 following a nearly one-quarter rise during the prior week. Applications to refinance a [...]

Inflation in the EMU, in its largest economies, and in the U.K., remains subdued. While French headline inflation is still right at its most acceptable level at a 1.9% pace, its progressive growth rates make it clear that it is [...]

The Composite Housing Market Index from the National Association of Home Builders-Wells Fargo rose to 58 during January after falling sharply during December to 56, its lowest level since May 2015. The figure compared to the expansion [...]

Import prices fell 1.0% during December following a 1.9% November decline, revised from -1.6%. A 1.3% fall had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. During all of 2018, import prices fell 0.6% from December-to- [...]

The EMU trade balance widened to 15.1 billion euros in November from 13.5 billion euros in October. The November figure is above its three-month average (13.8 billion euros) but below its 12-month average (16.6 billion euros). [...]