Economy in Brief

Orders for durable goods rose 0.8% last month and the increase followed a 0.1% uptick during May. Consensus expectations had been for a 0.4% decline during June. The figures of late, however, have been very much influenced by weakness [...]

There is little let up in the pace of the drop in the Euro Area MFG and services PMIs. Indeed their rate of decline has picked up pace. The services PMI has been in existence for 31 months and it is at its lowest level since its [...]

For June the level of existing homes fell 2.6% to 4.86 million, reported the National Association of Realtors. The decline reversed all of a 2.0% increase during May and it was to a new low for this cycle. The figure was weaker than [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance shot higher last week to 406,000. The latest level compared to an upwardly revised 372,000 during the prior week. It reached a level not seen since this past March which was the highest point [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance shot higher last week to 406,000. The latest level compared to an upwardly revised 372,000 during the prior week. It reached a level not seen since this past March which was the highest point [...]

The domestic and foreign orders trend lines now both have discernable downtrends. Growth rate calculations over the key sequential periods also show that declines are becoming more intense in both sectors. Over three months, for [...]

The domestic and foreign orders trend lines now both have discernable downtrends. Growth rate calculations over the key sequential periods also show that declines are becoming more intense in both sectors. Over three months, for [...]

Japan’s sector indices show that the main all-industry reading is up in May and stands strongly in the 95th percentile of its range. The construction index is off sharply and continues to be very weak. The table plots 12-month changes [...]