Economy in Brief: January 2016

The Chicago Purchasing Managers report indicated that its General Business Barometer surged to 55.6 in January from 42.9 in December, and more than made up the declines during the prior two months. The index level was the highest in [...]

The year-over-year growth in GDP has been gaining for France (as the chart shows), but on that same basis, household consumption has begun to pull back. On a quarterly basis, France GDP slowed to a 1% pace from 1.3% in Q3. France ends [...]

The employment cost index for civilian workers increased 0.6% (2.0% y/y) during Q4'15, as expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Wages increased 0.6% (2.1% y/y) for a second month and benefits rose 0.7% (1.8% y/y). The [...]

Overall economic growth eased during Q4 to 0.7% (AR, 1.8% y/y) versus 2.0% growth in Q3. It was the weakest gain since Q1 of last year. A 0.8% rise had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Slower growth was realized [...]

Overall economic growth eased during Q4 to 0.7% (1.8% y/y) versus 2.0% growth in Q3. It was the weakest gain since Q1 of last year. A 0.8% rise had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Slower growth was realized in [...]

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that pending sales of single-family homes ticked 0.1% higher in December (+3.1% y/y) following November's 1.1% decline, which was initially reported as -0.9%. The December sales [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance declined to 278,000 (+5.3% y/y) during the week ended January 23 following 294,000 claims in the prior week, revised from 293,000. The four-week moving average now stands at 283,000, and has [...]

The comprehensive EU sentiment index and its counterpart for the EMU fell and each index fell to a five-month low in January. Happy New Year! The indices are out relatively late in the month, allowing for the month's activities to be [...]