Economy in Brief

Consumer confidence, as measured by the Conference Board, fell to an index reading of 78.1 this month (+14.9% y/y) from January's 79.4, revised down from 80.7. The latest figure fell short of the Action Economics Consensus Forecast [...]

The U.S. House Price Index from the Federal Housing and Finance Agency (FHFA) improved by 0.8% during December and lifted prices during all of last year by 7.7%. That was the strongest rise since 2005. During the last twelve months [...]

The price for a gallon of regular gasoline increased to $3.44 (-9.0% y/y) last week, the third consecutive week of increase from the $3.29 low. Nevertheless, prices remained below the $3.78 per gallon peak reached in February of last [...]

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas reported that its General Business Activity Index fell to 0.3 (SA) this month from 3.8 during January. It was the lowest level in nine months. Movement in the index components was mixed. The company [...]

Economic climate continued to improve in Germany through February. However, the survey by the Ifo shows some cracks in the solidity of German growth. The climate index increased to 14.9 in February from 13.7 in January. Improvement [...]

The Chicago Federal Reserve reported that its National Activity Index (CFNAI) fell sharply last month to -0.39 from -0.03 in December, revised from 0.16. The latest level was down from November's high of 0.73. As a result, the three- [...]

The euro area is making an economic recovery but ones may wonder whether it will last. Economic growth has begun to progress even in countries that had been reporting GDP declines. However, economic cycles come and go and not all of [...]

Sales of existing single-family homes in January declined 5.1% (-5.1% y/y) to 4.620 million (AR) versus an unrevised 4.870 million in December. Sales were down 14.1% versus the July high and fell short of 4.700 million expected in the [...]