Economy in Brief

The consumer price index (CPI-U) last month rose 0.3%. The increase was slightly ahead of expectations for a 0.2% rise. It was well below the heightened 0.8% November jump and equal to the gains of the prior two months, Nevertheless, [...]

Continued strength of the euro and now fears of recession in the United States are taking their toll on the confidence of German institutional investors and financial analysts as shown by the ZEW's (Center for European Research at [...]

Inflation is above the ECB top allowed mark in seven of nine early reporters in December, nearly 80% if them. Through November, 92% of the central 12 members of EMU have inflation running over 2%. That compares to 80% in October and [...]

Total business inventory accumulation continued to moderate and rose 0.4% during November. The three month change in inventories of 3.9 (AR) is less than half the rate of accumulation in mid-2006. Retail inventories fell 0.1% as [...]

Finished producer prices retreated 0.1% last month after the 3.2% surge during November. The decline compared with an expectation for a 0.2% gain. A 0.2% gain in core producer prices matched expectations. Energy prices fell 1.9% [...]

U.S. retail sales fell 0.4% last month and missed expectations for no change. November's gain was revised down slightly to 1.0% and the October figure also was revised down slightly to no change. Excluding autos sales similarly fell [...]

U.S. retail sales fell 0.4% last month and missed expectations for no change. November's gain was revised down slightly to 1.0% and the October figure also was revised down slightly to no change. Excluding autos sales similarly fell [...]

In recent months, the British Pound has taken a sharp fall. From its peak of 102.89 (January, 2005 = 100) in early November, the Broad Effective Exchange rate of the British pound had declined 7.6% by last Friday. By contrast, during [...]