Economy in Brief

According to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), small business optimism held roughly steady last month. At 87.8, the index rose 0.3% m/m from October after that month's 5.8% decline to the lowest level since [...]

According to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), small business optimism held roughly steady last month. At 87.8, the index rose 0.3% m/m from October after that month's 5.8% decline to the lowest level since [...]

Japan's current account balance has deteriorated severely this year. The balance for the first 10 months of 2008 was a surplus 14,943 billion yen, compared with 21,206 billion yen surplus in the comparable period of 2007, a decline of [...]

German industrial output fell by 2.1% in October and its sequential growth rates show a steady drumbeat of negativism more than an acceleration of weakness. This is in stark contrast to the unraveling in orders. But order weakness [...]

German industrial output fell by 2.1% in October and its sequential growth rates show a steady drumbeat of negativism more than an acceleration of weakness. This is in stark contrast to the unraveling in orders. But order weakness [...]

The usage of consumer credit continued to fall as it never has before. During October, consumer credit outstanding fell $3.6 billion m/m. Though that lagged a $6.5B decline back in August, it still was one of the largest in the [...]

German new MFG orders dropped 6.1% in October from September. In September they fell 8.3% from August. The party is over. Foreign orders are falling faster overall but in the month domestic orders almost caught up in pace with foreign [...]

The LEIs from the OECD are plunging and the outlook is not for more severe slowdowns across the region and for many key members. The Euro Area and the US figures show the most rapid descent while Japan ’s index is going down for the [...]