Economy in Brief: February 2011

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) issued a number press releases today, detailing Japan's Industrial Production, Industry Shipments and Inventories, and Retail Trade. And Markit Economics released its purchasing [...]

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that January pending sales of existing single-family homes fell 2.8% after a 3.2% December decline, which last month was reported as a 2.0% increase. Sales fell hard in most regions [...]

Personal income rose an improved 1.0% last month, more-than-double expectations. However, the improvement was limited to a 2.1% spike in rental income, up 10.6% y/y. Elsewhere, income growth continued moderate. The December gain in [...]

The National Association for Business Economics indicated an upward revision to its latest growth forecast. For this year, real GDP growth should average 3.3%, versus 2.6% expected three months ago. For next year, growth is expected [...]

It was expected that GDP would be an upward revision and not a downward revision. There were some hopes that UK GDP would eliminate the decline in Q4 that was viewed as 'pre-mature.' Instead UK GDP has fallen by more in Q4 than had [...]

Consumers' spirits improved markedly during the last two weeks. The full-month February reading of consumer sentiment from the University of Michigan rose to 77.5 and easily beat expectations for 75.3. The reading also was improved [...]

Real GDP growth during Q4 was reduced to 2.8% (SAAR) from the advance report of 3.2%. The revision was due to weakened growth in domestic final demand. The GDP figure was well below Consensus expectations for a revision to 3.6%. [...]

EU economic sentiment indices continue to make progress but the chart highlights that fact that the rate of change, while still positive is steadily abating. And while some sectors are going quite well others are quite stuck in a low [...]