Economy in Brief: December 2005

According to the Autodata Corporation, November US sales of light vehicles recovered most of the prior month's decline with a 6.7% m/m rise to 15.74M. The increase, however, failed to recoup the decline during the prior three months. [...]

In November, non-farm payrolls posted the largest gain since July. The 215,000 increase matched Consensus expectations and followed a 44,000 October rise that was slightly lower than initially reported, but the September figure was [...]

In November, non-farm payrolls posted the largest gain since July. The 215,000 increase matched Consensus expectations and followed a 44,000 October rise that was slightly lower than initially reported, but the September figure was [...]

Indonesia's trade data for October, reported this morning, highlight two unexpected aspects of that oil-producing nation's economic development. In October, its monthly trade surplus was $2.6 billion, a large figure, but not the [...]

The value of construction put in place rose 0.7% in October though the September gain was revised lower to 0.2% due to a lessened increase in residential building. Residential building in October continued at about its earlier pace [...]

US real GDP growth for 3Q was revised upward to 4.3% (AR) and surpassed Consensus expectations for 4.1% growth. Operating corporate profits are estimated to have declined 3.4% (+16.5% y/y) and that reversed most of a 2Q rise. [...]

The Institute of Supply Management (ISM) reported that the November Composite Index of activity in the manufacturing sector fell one point to 58.1. The decline about matched Consensus expectations and the average of the last three [...]

Initial claims for jobless insurance reversed about half of the prior week's rise and fell 17,000 to 320,000 during Thanksgiving week. Consensus expectations had been for 323,000 claims. Hurricane related claims dropped back to 10,000 [...]