Economy in Brief

The Chicago Federal Reserve indicated that its National Activity Index (CFNAI) remained negative last month. At -0.15, it was the sixth negative reading this year. The three-month moving average of deterioration moderated slightly to [...]

Japan's economy continues to dig out after its long period of lethargy, after having been embroiled in a global financial collapse, and then, after being struck by an earthquake, a tsunami and a nuclear disaster, the latter being like [...]

The overall U.S. rate of unemployment of 7.4% stood last month at its lowest level since December 2008. Improvement has registered across the country and gained momentum in many states. While the country's overall jobless rate is down [...]

Japanese goods exports fell by 1.8% July as imports of goods surged by 2.7%, widening Japan's trade deficit on the month. Year-over-year exports are growing at a 9.1% annual rate as imports surge at a 17.9% annual rate and as oil [...]

Nonfarm business sector productivity growth during Q2'13 improved 0.9% (SAAR) after two quarters of 1.7% decline. (Figures back through 2011 were revised.) Over the past year, worker productivity has been unchanged. This result [...]

The reading from the Reuters/University of Michigan survey of consumer sentiment during mid-August fell sharply to 80.0 (+7.7% y/y) from an unrevised 85.1 in July. Consensus expectations had been for stability at 85.0. The latest [...]

Europe's auto sector is on the mend. While a number of countries are still showing erratic behavior in month-to-month sales, the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) reported a strong rise in auto sales, led by the [...]

Housing starts improved 5.9% last month to 896,000 (20.9% y/y) and reversed most of the June decline to 846,000, initially reported as 836,000. The rise nearly matched expectations for 903,000 starts in the Action Economics survey. [...]