Economy in Brief

Sales of existing homes declined 3.2% (+6.0% y/y) during October to 5.120 million (AR). The drop followed an unrevised September 1.9% shortfall, according to the National Association of Realtors. Consensus expectations had been for [...]

Total business inventories increased 0.6% in September (3.1% y/y) following a 0.4% August rise, revised from 0.3% reported before. These stocks accompanied a modest 0.2% rise in business sales (2.9% y/y) which came after August's 0.3% [...]

The October consumer price index slipped 0.1% (1.0% y/y) following an unrevised 0.2% increase during September. Expectations had been for no change in prices. Consumer prices excluding food and energy matched expectations and rose a [...]

Retail sales improved last month as consumers bought cars and dined out. Retail spending firmed 0.4% (3.9% y/y) during October following no change in September, revised from a 0.1% dip. A 0.1% uptick had been expected in the Action [...]

Retail sales improved last month as consumers bought cars and dined out. Retail spending firmed 0.4% (3.9% y/y) during October following no change in September, revised from a 0.1% dip. A 0.1% uptick had been expected in the Action [...]

The main focus for watchers of the ZEW index is its expectations reading. That reading rose to 54.6 in November from 52.8 in October. The current index declined to 28.7 from October's 29.7. The two indices are now roughly at the same [...]

The International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs reported that chain store sales ticked 0.1% higher (2.8% y/y) last week following a 1.7% rise the week earlier. For the month so far, sales have recovered half of [...]

The price for a gallon of regular gasoline edged 3 cents higher last week to $3.22 (-6.1% y/y), but remained near the lowest level since February 2011. They're down from the $3.78 per gallon peak reached late in February. Much of the [...]