Economy in Brief

The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)-UBS survey reported that chain store sales rose 0.2% last week after the 0.9% decline during the prior period. The average level of store sales, thus, so far in August is just even [...]

Exports were up more strongly in June than were imports shrinking the Euro area trade deficit in the month. Exports have a reasonably strong history of growth across its main categories. Import growth also has been firm and broad- [...]

Among the Haver updates released today were balance of payments data for Greece and Taiwan. The two countries have very different balances of payments. Greece traditionally runs a deficit on current account while Taiwan runs a [...]

French industrial orders build on May acceleration. As the Euro area growth seemed to sputter in Q2, various indicators weakened as well. And GDP in the Euro area was below expectations in Q2. Certainly the VAT hike in Germany, the [...]

The National Activity Index (CFNAI) from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago fell back in July to -0.10 after a brief move into positive territory during the prior month. The Chicago Fed indicated that the production & income category [...]

French industrial orders build on May acceleration. As the Euro area growth seemed to sputter in Q2, various indicators weakened as well. And GDP in the Euro area was below expectations in Q2. Certainly the VAT hike in Germany, the [...]

We speak often about oil demand, in which regions it has grown and where it is more restrained and how can we use oil more efficiently. But price, of course, results from both demand AND supply. So discussion of oil markets is not [...]

Trends in German producer prices are partly favorable. Excluding energy, manufacturing PPI trends are sideways. The year-over-year rate has showed a slight downtrend while the six-month rate has popped up and the 3-month rate has [...]