Economy in Brief: May 2009

The University of Michigan's reading of consumer sentiment for all of May rose to the highest level since September of last year. At 68.7 the latest level was up from the mid-month figure and slightly exceeded Consensus expectations [...]

Last quarter, economic weakness in the U.S. was not quite as severe as reported initially by the Commerce Department. The latest estimate of a 5.7% (AR) drop in real GDP compares to the advance estimate of a 6.1% decline and the [...]

Last quarter, economic weakness in the U.S. was not quite as severe as reported initially by the Commerce Department. The latest estimate of a 5.7% (AR) drop in real GDP compares to the advance estimate of a 6.1% decline and the [...]

Retail sales are falling on a Yr/Yr basis but, in recent months, spending has been higher; over three months spending (ex-autos) is actually rising. As we saw in the first quarter German GDP report, consumers have been mildly affected [...]

Perhaps the factory sector's distress is nearing its end. At least some moderation of last year's woes was evident in the latest report of durable goods orders. During April orders rose 1.9% following a 2.1% March decline which was [...]

Another tenuous sign improvement in the labor market came from last week's decline in initial claims for unemployment insurance, down a modest 13,000 to 623,000. That followed an upwardly revised level during the prior week of [...]

Sales of new single-family homes during April showed further signs of forming a bottom after having declined by more than three-quarters since 2005. Sales were stable at 352,000 units (AR) after a downwardly revised March decline. [...]

Perhaps the factory sector's distress is nearing its end. At least some moderation of last year's woes was evident in the latest report of durable goods orders. During April orders rose 1.9% following a 2.1% March decline which was [...]