Economy in Brief

In January, U.S. sales of light vehicles eased 0.1% from the prior month to 16.73M units, according to the Autodata Corporation. This was 4.6% below January 2006. There were offsetting moves in trucks and cars. Total truck sales came [...]

Nonfarm payrolls grew by 111,000, an increase that was short of the Consensus forecast for a 140,000 rise, but the prior two months' gains were upwardly revised by a collective 81,000. The unemployment rate increased last month to [...]

Nonfarm payrolls grew by 111,000, an increase that was short of the Consensus forecast for a 140,000 rise, but the prior two months' gains were upwardly revised by a collective 81,000. The unemployment rate increased last month to [...]

The ISM Manufacturing Index fell back below 50 in January to 49.3, reversing December's gain and confounding forecasts of a further gain to over 51. Readings above 50 indicate that activity is expanding at half or more of the [...]

A 20,000 drop in initial unemployment insurance claims last week to 307.000 reversed half of the upwardly revised increase the prior week. Consensus expectations had been for 315,000 claims. During the last ten years there has been a [...]

Personal income increased 0.5% after two months of 0.3% rise and matched Consensus expectations. For the year, income rose 6.4%, faster than the 5.2% gain during 2005. Wages & salaries jumped 0.6% (6.4% y/y) and for the whole year [...]

Personal income increased 0.5% after two months of 0.3% rise and matched Consensus expectations. For the year, income rose 6.4%, faster than the 5.2% gain during 2005. Wages & salaries jumped 0.6% (6.4% y/y) and for the whole year [...]

The trade deficit in Turkey shrank markedly in December. The Turkish Statistical Institute reported it at $3.08 billion, compared with $4.18 billion in November and $4.44 billion in December 2005. This was the smallest deficit since [...]