Economy in Brief: July 2008

Perhaps 2.2% doesn't sound like much, but as a measure of the degree motor vehicle miles driven in the U.S.has fallen, it continues an unprecedented decline in demand. That follows an inexorable rise in vehicle miles driven. Just [...]

Perhaps 2.2% doesn't sound like much, but as a measure of the degree motor vehicle miles driven in the U.S.has fallen, it continues an unprecedented decline in demand. That follows an inexorable rise in vehicle miles driven. Just [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance last week surged to 404,000 versus an upwardly revised 388,000 during the prior week. Consensus expectations had been for 385,000 claims. A claims level below 400,000 typically has been [...]

In June, the Composite Index for the non-manufacturing sector from the Institute for Supply Management fell to its lowest level since this past January. At 48.2, the index fell from 51.7. Consensus expectations had been for a higher [...]

The service sector is eroding across Europe. France had resisted deterioration for some time but in recent months the French reading has dropped sharply. Spain and the UK have the weakest readings since this index was instituted on a [...]

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nonfarm payrolls fell 62,000 in June. While the decline was in-line with expectations, it was the sixth consecutive monthly drop and it brought the total loss of jobs this year to 438,000. [...]

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nonfarm payrolls fell 62,000 in June. While the decline was in-line with expectations, it was the sixth consecutive monthly drop and it brought the total loss of jobs this year to 438,000. [...]

The charts show that trends in the PPI are still working their way higher. The table shows that energy and manufacturing sector inflation trends as well as the total excluding construction embody accelerating trends. Headline [...]