Economy in Brief

Home sales continue to recover, helped by lower prices. The National Association of Realtors reported that September sales of existing homes rose sharply to the highest level since July 2007. The 9.4% m/m increase to 5.570M units [...]

The EMU surplus in trade shrank in August at exports fell a sharp 5.8% in the month and imports skittered lower by 1.3%. While exports are down by a heft 22.8% Yr/Yr their annual rate of decline is cut to the 3% to 4% range over three [...]

The Conference Board's Index of Leading Economic Indicators suggested pending economic recovery with a 1.0% September increase that was the sixth consecutive monthly rise. The 5.7% increase during those six months was the strongest [...]

The recent improvement in the labor market stalled last week, but the trend toward improvement seems still in place. The Labor Department indicated that initial claims for unemployment insurance increased to 531,000 from 520,000, [...]

The recent improvement in the labor market stalled last week, but the trend toward improvement seems still in place. The Labor Department indicated that initial claims for unemployment insurance increased to 531,000 from 520,000, [...]

The Mortgage Bankers Association indicated that mortgage applications fell 13.7% last week. The drop left the weekly total down from the end of last month as earlier gains in applications slackened. Nevertheless, the monthly average [...]

UK industrial orders according to the CBI up-minus-down net balance indicators fell in October. At a reading of -51 the orders index is above its cycle low of -59 but down from September’s -48. Export orders at a still weak -46 were [...]

UK industrial orders according to the CBI up-minus-down net balance indicators fell in October. At a reading of -51 the orders index is above its cycle low of -59 but down from September’s -48. Export orders at a still weak -46 were [...]