Economy in Brief

Earlier suggestions of labor market deterioration were reversed by today's Labor Department report that initial claims. Jobless insurance fell 43,000 to the lowest level since early-January. Last week's decline to 440,000 followed an [...]

Earlier suggestions of labor market deterioration were reversed by today's Labor Department report that initial claims. Jobless insurance fell 43,000 to the lowest level since early-January. Last week's decline to 440,000 followed an [...]

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that mortgage applications slipped 1.2% last week after a 21.0% jump at the end of January. As a result, applications began February up sharply from last month. Applications to refinance [...]

The drop –a sharp drop- in German IP has been echoed throughout the e-zone’s largest economies. In December IP has also fallen in France, in Italy and in Spain. The UK, an EU member country, reports that its IP rose by a strong 0.9% [...]

Higher oil prices and economic recovery were December's double-punch to the U.S. trade accounts. Together, they raised imports and increased the international trade deficit to $40.2B which was the highest level in twelve months. The [...]

Higher oil prices and economic recovery were December's double-punch to the U.S. trade accounts. Together, they raised imports and increased the international trade deficit to $40.2B which was the highest level in twelve months. The [...]

The budget crises in Greece, Spain and Portugal have left their mark on the Euro. The first chart shows the dramatic rise over the past year or so in the budget deficits of the three countries on a twelve months moving average basis. [...]

Germany’s HICP and domestic CPI show modest inflation in Germany but headline inflation is still in a steady upward progression. Since the headline rate for the HICP is only 0.7% that is not disturbing at all. The HICP core is not yet [...]