Economy in Brief

January retail sales unexpectedly rose 1.0%. However, the increase recovered only part of the little-revised 3.0% decline during December which capped a six-month slide in sales. The meekness of the rebound left the 9.7% year-to-year [...]

January retail sales unexpectedly rose 1.0%. However, the increase recovered only part of the little-revised 3.0% decline during December which capped a six-month slide in sales. The meekness of the rebound left the 9.7% year-to-year [...]

The U.S. government's January budget deficit continued to reflect the combined effects of a U.S. recession and two wars.The monthly deficit rose to $83.8 billion. Like December's figure, however, the relatively moderate deficit [...]

The December U.S. foreign trade deficit narrowed sharply to its shallowest since late 2003 as the global recession continued and oil prices fell further. The decline to $39.9B from an upwardly revised November deficit of $41.6B fell [...]

The December U.S. foreign trade deficit narrowed sharply to its shallowest since late 2003 as the global recession continued and oil prices fell further. The decline to $39.9B from an upwardly revised November deficit of $41.6B fell [...]

The list of countries reporting steep declines in industrial output continues. In the quarter-to-date (a full quarter now since we have December data) the pace of decline is roughly at a 25% annual rate. And that is steep indeed. [...]

The Insee survey of French industry held steady at a reading of 73, the first time the index did not fall month-to-month since March 2008. The index and its trend are on their lowest reading since 1990 The likely trend reading is in [...]

The list of countries reporting steep declines in industrial output continues. In the quarter-to-date (a full quarter now since we have December data) the pace of decline is roughly at a 25% annual rate. And that is steep indeed. [...]