Economy in Brief: 2017

Activity in the manufacturing sector remained strong last month, but edged down from its September high. The ISM manufacturing sector composite index fell to 58.7 during October from September's unrevised reading of 60.8. It was the [...]

The ADP/Moody's National Employment Report indicated that private nonfarm payrolls increased 235,000 (2.1% y/y) during October. Depressed by Hurricanes Harvey & Irma, September's 110,000 gain was revised from 135,000. A 200,000 rise [...]

Retail gasoline prices rose a penny last week to $2.49 per gallon (11.6% y/y), but remained lower than the $2.69 high early last month. Haver Analytics constructs factors adjusting for the seasonal variation in gasoline pump prices. [...]

From the end of 2012, EMU year-on-year real GDP has been gradually accelerating. In Q2 2015, it reached a growth rate of 2.0%. Then it slipped slightly below 2% for the next four quarters. In 2017 the 2% growth rate was back and has [...]

The Chicago Purchasing Managers Business Barometer for October rose to 66.2 from 65.2 in September. It was the highest level since March 2011. A decline to 62.0 had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Based on these [...]

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index surged 4.4% during October (24.9% y/y) to 125.9 following a 0.2% September rise, revised from -0.5%. The index was at its highest level since December 2000. The Action Economics Forecast [...]

The employment cost index for civilian workers rose 0.7% (2.5% y/y) during Q3'17, up from a 0.5% increase in Q2'17. A 0.6% rise had been expected in the Action Economics Survey. Wages and salaries also increased 0.7% (2.5% y/y) after [...]

The EU commission indexes are still rising with gains posted in each of the sector or special function indexes in October. Retailing gained three points month-to-month; construction gained two points; the industrial and service [...]