Economy in Brief

Durable goods orders were unchanged (2.3% y/y) last month after a 9.2% recovery during September. The figure contrasted with Consensus expectations for a 1.0% decline. Fewer orders for transportation equipment accounted for much of [...]

The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index for November rose slightly to 73.7 from 73.1 in October, revised from 72.2. Consensus expectations had been 73.2 for this month. The latest figure was the highest since February 2008. [...]

Measures of Consumer sentiment or confidence in Korea, Brazil and Italy were announced today. In Korea, sentiment is measured above or below a neutral position of 100. Consumer confidence in Brazil is measured in points. The [...]

The Chicago Federal Reserve reported that its National Activity Index (CFNAI) for October dropped sharply to -0.56 from an unrevised 0.00 during September. The three-month moving average also fell to -0.56, its lowest since October [...]

The Leading Economic Indicator index from the Conference Board increased 0.2% during October following a 0.5% September gain, initially estimated at 0.6%. Fifty percent of the component series had a positive influence on the index [...]

Initial claims for jobless insurance fell last week, but remained elevated after Hurricane Sandy. Claims fell during the week ended November 17 to 410,000 from 451,000 during the prior period, initially reported as 439,000. The four [...]

For the last twenty five years or so, in its rush to modernize, China has stressed Investment and Exports over Consumption. 2011 was the first year in which consumption as a percentage of GDP exceeded that of Investment 49.2% vs 48.2% [...]

The data on U.S. chain store sales just don't show upward momentum entering the holiday season. Sales slipped 0.3% last week and left the November average 3.5% below last July. During the last ten years there has been a 72% [...]