Economy in Brief

During December, the value of construction put in place fell 1.1% after a downwardly revised 0.4% November dip. The latest decline was the third consecutive monthly drop and it finished a year where activity fell 2.7%, the largest y/y [...]

The NTC MFG PMIs show that EMU MFG took a hit to growth late in 2007 but has been on a steady mend since then. The EU Commission readings do not share such a benign view as that report’s industrial sector as its readings are still [...]

The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index for all of last month did improve by 3.8% m/m to a reading of 78.4. But that gain was reduced by nearly one half from the rise reported at mid-month. A level for the month of 79 [...]

The Institute of Supply Management (ISM) reported that its Composite Index of Manufacturing Sector Activity recovered last month. The m/m gain to 50.7 from a revised 48.4 in December (figures were revised back to 2005) contrasted with [...]

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nonfarm payrolls fell in January by 17,000 versus expectations for a rise of 70,000. In December, the rise payrolls was revised to a stronger gain of 82,000, but November's increase was [...]

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nonfarm payrolls fell in January by 17,000 versus expectations for a rise of 70,000. In December, the rise payrolls was revised to a stronger gain of 82,000, but November's increase was [...]

The Conference Board indicated that its index of help-wanted advertising did rise slightly last month but only to 22 from 21 in November. The figures are at the record lows for the series which dates back to the 1950s. The Conference [...]

At 103.2, the EU confidence index fell by two points following a nearly one point drop in December. The sentiment index now resides at the border of the 70th percentile of its range since 1990. In absolute terms services and the [...]