Economy in Brief

The EMU region saw its manufacturing PMI from Markit drop to 51.1 in September from 51.38 in August. This small set back still leaves the gauge on an improving trajectory, but on a mild trajectory. Monthly set backs were seen in [...]

Rising inventories combined with weaker demand is a prescription for falling prices, and that's certainly been the case of late within the energy sector. The price of regular gasoline declined another 7 cents last week to $3.43 per [...]

German retail sales are up in August in both nominal and in real terms. And, while auto registrations are building a head of steam, German retail sales excluding autos are still slogging ahead with little sign of any renewed [...]

The MNI Chicago Report business barometer improved this month to 55.7, its highest level since May. Expectations were for 54.0. Haver Analytics constructs a seasonally adjusted figure comparable to the MNI Barometer and it rose to [...]

Consumer sentiment from the Reuters/University of Michigan survey fell sharply this month to 77.5 (-1.0% y/y) from 82.1 during August. Consensus expectations had been for stability at 82.0. The mid-month sentiment reading was 76.8. [...]

The consumer earned more money last month, and spent it. Personal income in August matched expectations and increased 0.4% (3.7% y/y) following a 0.2% July rise, revised from 0.1%. An improved 0.4% increase (3.5% y/y) in wage & [...]

European Union's overall consumer sentiment index improved in September to 100.6 from 98.2. The reading was last stronger in March 2011 at a level of 102.6. Of the 18 European Union countries that report separate sentiment indices, [...]

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that August pending sales of single-family homes declined 1.6% m/m, down for the third straight month. Despite the loss of forward momentum, sales were at the highest level since [...]