Economy in Brief: 2009

At 589,000 last week, initial claims for unemployment insurance rose another 62,000 to their highest level since late during the sharp recession of 1981-82. During that recession, real GDP fell by 2.9% peak-to-trough. The latest [...]

Regular gasoline prices moved higher last week for the third consecutive period. They rose six cents to an average $1.85 per gallon after the prior week's ten cent gain, according to the U.S. Department of Energy survey. The latest [...]

The January Housing Market Index (HMI) from the National Association of Home Builders again reached a record low. At a level of 8 it was more than half below the year-ago figure. The index is compiled from survey questions asking [...]

The pace of the downturn in the U.S. housing market accelerated at the end of last year. Housing starts fell to a record low in December of 550,000 units (SAAR) which was the lowest in the series' history that extends back to 1959. [...]

The pace of the downturn in the U.S. housing market accelerated at the end of last year. Housing starts fell to a record low in December of 550,000 units (SAAR) which was the lowest in the series' history that extends back to 1959. [...]

Germany’s PPI for manufactured goods fell by 0.8% in December and is falling at an accelerated rate along with its ex-energy measure. In the fourth quarter MFG producer prices fell at a 4% pace compared to ex–energy prices that fell [...]

Deterioration in trade is becoming a global theme as exports and imports both falter in its widespread global slowdown. For Italy the trade and current account positions also have deteriorated. The current account deficit is winder [...]

Chain store sales last week rose 1.1%, but failed to recover even half of the prior week's 2.3% decline, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers-Goldman Sachs Index. As a result, for January so far sales have risen [...]