Initial claims for jobless insurance fell last week to 339,000, the lowest level since the first week of 2001. The prior week's level was little revised at 354,000. Consensus expectations had been for claims of 350,000. The four-week [...]
- Global| Dec 31 2003
Jobless Insurance Claims Lowest Since Early 2001
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Dec 30 2003
Chicago Purchasing Agents' Index Down More Than Expected
The Chicago Purchasing Managers Business Barometer for December gave back slightly more of the prior month's surge than was expected. The decline to 59.2 was versus Consensus expectations for a decline to 62.0 and followed the [...]
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Dec 29 2003
Help-Wanted Advertising Improved
The Conference Boards National Index of Help-Wanted Advertising improved to 39 last month, the highest level since March. During the last ten years there has been a 92% correlation between the level of help-wanted advertising and the [...]
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Dec 24 2003
U.S. Durable Goods Orders Plunged
Durable goods orders unwound much of the prior month's strength with a 3.1% plunge in November. October orders were revised up to a 4.0% gain from the advance report of a 3.3% jump. Consensus expectations had been for a 1.0% rise in [...]
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Dec 23 2003
3Q U.S. GDP Unrevised at 8.2%
US economic growth was unrevised at 8.2% (AR) for 3Q03, as expected. Growth in corporate profits w/IVA & CCA was lowered slightly to 46.0% (AR, 24.9% y/y) from the initial read of 56.0% growth. That followed a 48.1% burst in 2Q. [...]
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Dec 22 2003
Italian Business Confidence Drops. The culprits? Euro's Rise, Labor Unrest, Corporate Scandals
Italian business confidence dropped to 91.2 (1995=100) in December from a revised November reading of 94, which had previously been reported at 94.4. The mood among businessmen in Italy contrasts with that in other Eurozone countries [...]
- Global| Dec 22 2003
US Dollar Up This Month Versus Major Currency Index, Depressed Vs. Euro
The foreign exchange value of the US dollar versus major currencies has risen 2.5% since the early December low (-12.2% y/y). Roughly 50% of US foreign trade is with the countries in the major currency index. Since 1990 there has been [...]
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Dec 18 2003
Initial Claims for Jobless Insurance Drop Sharply
Initial claims for jobless insurance fell 22,000 (-5.9%) last week to 353,000. That followed an increase the prior week that was revised to 10,000 from 13,000 reported initially. Consensus expectations had been for claims of 370,000. [...]
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
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