Economy in Brief: April 2011

The Chicago Fed reported that its National Activity Index (CFNAI) improved to a positive 0.26 last month. The gain was versus upwardly revised, positive readings this year that previously were reported as negative. Nevertheless, the [...]

The employment cost index for private industry workers rose 0.5% in Q1 for total compensation after an upwardly-revised 0.5% Q4'10 rise, initially reported as 0.4%. The Q1 increase matched expectations as tallied by Bloomberg. The [...]

EU/EMU confidence continues to fall. The two main regional indices are still some 5% to 6% above their average values, however. Although the decline in the index is a clear ongoing pattern (see the attached chart) the recovery process [...]

Personal income rose 0.5% during March following a 0.4% February increase, initially reported as 0.3%. A 0.4% gain had been expected. Disposable personal income gained 0.6%. Like last month, the increase in income was paced by a [...]

Japan's industrial production has taken a sharp move lower and posted the largest drop since the occupation. The data are for March; they complete the quarter and they reflect the partial effects of damage by the tsunami and [...]

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that March pending sales of existing single-family homes rose 5.1% and added to the downwardly revised 0.7% February uptick. The m/m increase occurred across the country, again with [...]

Initial claims for jobless insurance rose last week to 429,000 from 404,000, initially reported as 403,000. The latest figure exceeded Consensus expectations for 392,000 claims and was the highest since the third week of January. The [...]

Real GDP grew 1.8% (SAAR) last quarter, the weakest growth since Q2'10. The Q1 figure roughly equaled Consensus expectations for 1.9% growth. Weakness in last quarter's GDP components was widespread. Slower growth in personal [...]