Economy in Brief

Inventories at the wholesale level edged 0.1% higher during July following a 0.2% June increase, revised from 0.3%. Inventories of durable goods increased 0.3% (8.4% y/y). Hardware inventories gained 1.8% (7.6% y/y while motor vehicle [...]

Among the eight reporting countries of the European Monetary Union, five of these early reporters showed increases and three showed declines for industrial production in July. Output is lower by 0.3% in France, by 0.4% in Finland and [...]

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that their total Mortgage Market Volume Index declined 7.2% last week (-15.0% y/y) after the prior week's 0.2% uptick. Applications were at the lowest level of the economic recovery. [...]

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in its Job Openings & Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) that the job openings rate during July held m/m at 3.3% following its jump from 2.8% at yearend 2013. The latest level was the highest since [...]

The National Federation of Independent Business reported that its Small Business Optimism Index rose to 96.1 during August following an unrevised July increase to 95.7. The latest level remained near its highest since September 2007, [...]

The price for a gallon of regular gasoline held steady last week at $3.46. It's been near that level for four weeks but was off 3.6% y/y. To account for seasonal patterns, Haver Analytics constructs factors for adjustment of pump [...]

The National Federation of Independent Business reported that its Small Business Optimism Index gained to 96.1 during August following an unrevised moderate July increase. The latest level remained near its highest since September [...]

U.K. exports and imports fell in June. Exports fell by 1.6%, following a 0.1% decline in May. Imports fell by 0.4%, following a 0.9% rise in May. Over 12 months both exports and imports are falling with exports falling faster at a [...]