Economy in Brief

According to the payroll processor Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and economic consultants Macroeconomic Advisers, private nonfarm payrolls grew 91,000 following an 89,000 increase during August, revised from 91,000. The latest beat [...]

The excess of optimists over pessimists among Chinese Purchasing Managers in the service industries rose to 53.00 in September from 50.64 in August foreshadowing increased output. Yesterday it was reported that the there was a slight [...]

Inflation in Euro-Area PPI prices is starting to settle down- and just in time. With its Greek tragedy playing out (well, it isn’t a comedy is it?), the ECB could well use a few more degrees of freedom in its policy options. While the [...]

The consumer just isn't spending much money in the country's malls. Chain store sales last week ticked up 0.1% but still left the September average down 1.2% from August when they fell 1.8% versus the July peak. During the last ten [...]

Economic slowdown are unpleasant words when combined to describe the backdrop for energy prices. Last week, weakness in the economy helped lower the pump price for a gallon of regular gasoline another eight cents to $3.43. Prices were [...]

Manufacturing orders slipped 0.2% last month, about as expected. That followed a downwardly revised 2.1% July gain, revised from 2.4%. For durable goods only orders slipped 0.1%, unchanged from the advance report. Nondurable goods [...]

Consumers reacted to new model offerings by manufactures with enthusiasm. Unit sales of light vehicles during September rose 6.9% from August to 13.10M units (SAAR) following a 1.1% August decline. Sales were at the highest level [...]

The financial turmoil in the Euro Area is beginning to take its toll on manufacturing production. Signs of a worldwide slowdown in manufacturing are becoming apparent in purchasing managers' appraisals of the outlook. The September [...]