Economy in Brief

Improvement in the job market definitely has translated into more business for U.S. retailers. Retail sales rose 0.4% last month. The gain was twice the Consensus expectation and the March increase was revised up to 2.1% from 1.6% [...]

The UK trade picture deteriorated in March With exports up by 1% on the month as imports screamed higher by 5.2%. This put exports in a severe shortfall position for March and ballooned the deficit. Of course in March the situation [...]

The Federal government's April budget balance totaled $-82.7B which was four times the April '09 deficit. Nevertheless, the Fiscal 'YTD deficit narrowed to $799.7B and was somewhat smaller than the FY'09 deficit of $802.3B. Though the [...]

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that initial claims for jobless insurance fell 4,000 to 444,000 after the prior week's lessened 3,000 drop. As was the case last week, the latest level remained near this cycle's lowest but [...]

U.S. import prices were raised during the last year by two forces, higher energy prices and the lower dollar. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicated that last month import prices rose 0.9% in April and roughly matched Consensus [...]

U.S. import prices were raised during the last year by two forces, higher energy prices and the lower dollar. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicated that last month import prices rose 0.9% in April and roughly matched Consensus [...]

It was hardly a spectacular number for Q1 GDP from EMU although the 0.2% Q/Q gain did beat the expected gain of just 0.1% Q/Q. GDP is rising Yr/Yr for the first time Since Q3 2008 and that is something. France, Italy, the Netherlands [...]

After stabilizing a bit for a few months, the U.S. foreign trade deficit broke from its range and deepened in March. The deficit of $40.4B compared to a little-revised $39.4B during February. The latest figure roughly matched [...]