Economy in Brief

The rate of labor market improvement picked up as indicated by the March job openings rate. It rose to 2.7%, the highest level since July 2008, and February was unrevised at 2.6%. The figures are in the Bureau of Labor Statistics Job [...]

The pump price of regular gasoline fell another four cents last week to $3.79 per gallon, down for the fifth straight week. Haver Analytics' seasonally-adjusted price for regular declined twelve cents to $3.58 per gallon, also the [...]

The National Federation of Independent Business reported that its Optimism Index improved to 94.5 last month from an unrevised 92.5 in March. The latest level matched the economic recovery high of last February. The percentage [...]

German orders are making an attempt at stability. Orders are up for the second month in a row for the first time since June of 2011. The one-month gain in March is a solid 2.2% rise. Foreign orders are driving the monthly result with [...]

Consumer credit outstanding returned to the fast growth track during March. It increased $21.3B (AR) following a $9.3B February gain, initially reported as $8.7B. A $10.0B increase had been expected by Action Economics. It raised [...]

German orders are making an attempt at stability. Orders are up for the second month in a row for the first time since June of 2011. The one-month gain in March is a solid 2.2% rise. Foreign orders are driving the monthly result with [...]

Euro-Area Retail sales are up by 0.3% in March and are accelerating over three months compared to six months. Motor vehicle registrations rebounded in March after a plunge February that followed a disaster in January. Their growth [...]

Nonfarm payrolls grew a disappointing 115,000 (1.4% y/y) last month. The rise followed a 154,000 March increase and a 259,000 February gain which both were revised up from 120,000 and 240,000, respectively. The latest increase was [...]