Economy in Brief: October 2006

Economic sentiment in the Eurozone increased 0.9% in October to 110.3 and was 9.9% above October, 2005. For the 25 members of the EU (European Union) the comparable figures were 0,5% 111.5 and 9.9% respectively. The Economic Sentiment [...]

Chain store sales fell another 0.2% last week on the heels of a 1.1% drop the week prior, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)-UBS. Average October sales, therefore, fell 0.7% following a 0.5% decline [...]

The retail price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline rose a penny last week to an average $2.22 (-10.6% y/y) and prices have been roughly unchanged for the last three weeks following sharp declines during August and September. [...]

Consumer confidence in October eased 0.5% to 105.4 following an upwardly revised 5.7% gain during September, the Conference Board reported. The decline ran counter to Consensus expectations for an increase to 107.9. During the last [...]

The employment cost index for private industry workers increased 0.9% last quarter, as expected, following the unrevised 0.8% increase during 2Q. Both increases were up from a 0.6% 1Q gain The gain raised the year to year increase to [...]

Consumer confidence in October eased 0.5% to 105.4 following an upwardly revised 5.7% gain during September, the Conference Board reported. The decline ran counter to Consensus expectations for an increase to 107.9. During the last [...]

With the exception of the European Central Bank, which explicitly uses the money supply to gauge inflation, most central bankers have down played the role of money in forming monetary policy in recent years. In fact, in the United [...]

Personal income beat expectations last month and rose 0.5% after an upwardly revised 0.4% August increase. Despite these firm gains, the three month income rise at 5.5% (AR) is down from near 10% growth early this year. Disposable [...]