Economy in Brief: 2004

US real GDP advanced 3.9% (AR) last quarter, up slightly from the advance report of growth at a 3.7% rate. The Consensus expectation had been for no change at 3.7%. Corporate profits w/ inventory (IVA) and capital consumption [...]

Gross domestic product in Denmark rose a negligible 0.04% in the third quarter. Private consumption rose almost 1% but public consumption fell by 0.6%. Gross fixed capital spending rose 3.6% and a swing in inventory change from a [...]

Though the November reading of Consumer Sentiment from the University of Michigan rose to 92.8, that was lower than the mid-month reading of 95.5 and indicated that Sentiment faded as the month progressed. Consensus expectations for a [...]

The National Index of Help-Wanted Advertising published by the Conference Board rose slightly to 37 in October but has been moving sideways since 2Q 2003. The proportion of labor markets with rising want-ad volume, however, more than [...]

Mortgage applications plunged 5.7% last week for the second sharp w/w decline this month, but the average level of activity so far in November still was up 3.1% from October according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). [...]

Last week, initial claims for unemployment insurance fell 12,000 to 323,000 from a little revised 335,000 the prior week. The Consensus expectation had been for 335,000 claims. The four week moving average of initial claims fell to [...]

Durable goods orders fell 0.4% in October led lower by declines in orders for motor vehicles and capital goods. A 0.5% gain in orders had been the Consensus expectation. Nondefense capital goods orders dropped 3.3% as orders for [...]

Sales of new single-family homes edged 0.2% higher in October to 1.226M following a 7.0% September gain that was double the initial indication. Consensus estimates had been for a decline in sales to 1.200M. Sales were mixed m/m around [...]