Economy in Brief

Unleaded gasoline prices at the pump rose slightly last week to an average $2.19 per gallon after two weeks unchanged at $2.17. Colder temperatures have given lift to crude oil prices which recently have hovered just under $60.00 per [...]

With a 1.3% increase last week, the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)-UBS survey indicated that chain store sales recovered from the sharp 0.9% decline at the end of January. The lift enabled the new month to begin 0.7% [...]

With a 1.3% increase last week, the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)-UBS survey indicated that chain store sales recovered from the sharp 0.9% decline at the end of January. The lift enabled the new month to begin 0.7% [...]

The Czech Republic and Kazakhstan released data on exports and imports of goods for December. The data for the Czech Republic are in Koruny and US dollars; that of Kazakhstan in US Dollars only. The monthly trade in goods when [...]

Factory inventories inched up just 0.1% during December after a slowed 0.2% November gain. The 0.6% increase in factory inventories during 4Q06 was the slowest since 3Q05. Primary metals inventories actually fell during the last two [...]

The non-manufacturing sector Business Activity Index rose more than expected to 59.0 last month and more than reversed the 1.6 point decline during December. Consensus estimates had been for a lesser gain to 57.0 and the figures from [...]

The University of Michigan's final reading of consumer sentiment during January remained quite solid versus December at 96.9 (Q1 1966 = 100). The reading fell, however, from the mid-month read of 98.0. The reading of current [...]

The University of Michigan's final reading of consumer sentiment during January remained quite solid versus December at 96.9 (Q1 1966 = 100). The reading fell, however, from the mid-month read of 98.0. The reading of current [...]