Economy in Brief

U.S. real GDP in the last quarter of 2007 rose at a 0.6% annual rate. The figure from the Commerce Department contrasted slightly with the Consensus expectation for a 1.2% advance. The figure contrasted sharply, however, with an [...]

U.S. real GDP in the last quarter of 2007 rose at a 0.6% annual rate. The figure from the Commerce Department contrasted slightly with the Consensus expectation for a 1.2% advance. The figure contrasted sharply, however, with an [...]

The French National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) released the results of its survey of consumer confidence today. The summary indicator declined by 4 percentage points in January from December, continuing a [...]

The ISAE business index is still in a weakening trend. However, it currently only hovers near the midpoint of a range it has occupied over the last eight years. But looking at the table below we see that the domestic economy is [...]

Weakness remains in play in the UK retail sector. In January the ‘+4’ orders and sales results continue a trend of progressively weaker net balance results that extends back to early 2007. Still those readings bested the ‘-5’ for [...]

The Conference Board reported today that consumer confidence gave back about all of its December gain. The level fell 3.0% in January to a reading of 87.9. The decline was slightly less than had been expected by economists but it was [...]

Orders for durable manufactured goods surged 5.2% last month helped very much by a jump in orders for commercial aircraft. December's rise was the largest m/m gain since July. Nevertheless, a reduced increase in orders for all of 2007 [...]

Orders for durable manufactured goods surged 5.2% last month helped very much by a jump in orders for commercial aircraft. December's rise was the largest m/m gain since July. Nevertheless, a reduced increase in orders for all of 2007 [...]