Economy in Brief

In a sign that perhaps labor market improvement has stalled, initial claims for jobless insurance rose to 412,000 last week from 385,000, initially reported as 382,000. The latest figure exceeded Consensus expectations for 378,000 [...]

The U.S. Producer Price Index for finished goods increased 0.7% last month after the 1.6% jump during February. The March increase was less than the 1.0% Consensus expectation. Less food & energy, however, pricing pressures picked up [...]

The U.S. Commerce Department reported that business inventories rose a lessened 0.5% in February following a 1.0% January gain, last month reported at 0.9%. A 0.8% gain in inventories had been expected by Bloomberg. The slower rate of [...]

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in its Job Openings & Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) that the February job openings rate improved to 2.3% from an unrevised 2.1% during January. The latest reading was the highest since April [...]

Europe's consumer sector is losing momentum as capital goods are gaining speed. Meanwhile intermediate goods seem to catching on and accelerating after a brief lull in momentum. Consumer goods sequential growth rates have pitched a [...]

Total retail & food service sales rose by 0.4% last month following a 1.1% February increase, revised up from 1.0%. Sales have risen for nine consecutive months and the latest increase left the y/y gain firm at 7.1%. The March rise [...]

The U.S. Government's budget deficit during the second quarter of FY 2011 totaled $460.4B, according to figures released today by the U.S. Treasury and the Office of Management and Budget. That was greatly expanded from last year's [...]

Zew's assessment of current conditions is flying high. But Zew expectations are moderate to low. Still with current conditions so good there is nothing to worry about, right? RIGHT? Answer me please... Paint by numbers; get depressed [...]