Economy in Brief

The University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment for all of April improved to 76.4 versus 75.7 at mid-month and 76.2 in March. The figure compared to expectations for 75.7. The reading of current economic conditions rose from [...]

The employment cost index for private industry workers rose 0.4% in Q1 for total compensation versus a revised 0.5% Q4 rise, initially reported as 0.4%. The latest increase fell short of expectations for a 0.5% rise as compiled by [...]

Economic growth slipped back onto the slow track last quarter with a disappointing 2.2% advance. The rise followed an unrevised 3.0% Q4 gain and was below Consensus estimates of a 2.5% rise. The highest expected gain was 3.0%. Despite [...]

For the whole of EU, the economic union, not just the monetary bloc, the economic sentiment index was flat in April. But for the monetary union the index fell by 1.7%. The index for Germany fell by 1%, France fell by 0.4% Italy’s [...]

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that pending sales of single-family homes during March jumped 4.1% (12.8% y/y) following an upwardly revised 0.4% February uptick. The index level of 101.4 (2001=100) was the highest [...]

The National Activity Index (CFNAI) for March from the Chicago Federal Reserve fell to -0.29 from an upwardly revised 0.07 in February, earlier reported as -0.09. The three-month moving average reversed course last month and fell to [...]

Initial unemployment insurance claims slipped 1,000 in the week ended April 21 to 388,000 from an upwardly revised 389,000 during the prior week, earlier reported as 386,000. The four-week moving average of initial claims rose to [...]

As expected, the Federal Open Market Committee today left the Federal funds rate in a "range from 0 to 1/4 percent." The Fed funds rate has remained unchanged since late-2008 at its lowest level ever. The discount rate also was left [...]