Economy in Brief

The University of Michigan's full month reading of October consumer sentiment rose 9.6% from September to 93.6 after a preliminary indication of an 8.1% rise. The gain exceeded Consensus expectations for a reading of 92.5 and was to [...]

U.S. real GDP grew just 1.6% (AR) last quarter, well below the 3.5% average of the prior four quarters and the weakest since 1Q 2003. Growth even fell short of Consensus expectations for a 2.5% rise. Virtually all of the [...]

U.S. real GDP grew just 1.6% (AR) last quarter, well below the 3.5% average of the prior four quarters and the weakest since 1Q 2003. Growth even fell short of Consensus expectations for a 2.5% rise. Virtually all of the [...]

It's almost unanimous. Housing is slumping in almost every region of the country. The Census Bureau reported building permit data today for September and the year-to-date for regions, divisions, states and metro areas as well as [...]

The Conference Board reported that its Index of Help-Wanted Advertising held at 30 in September after having dropped the prior month to a new forty five year low. During the last ten years there has been a 57% correlation between the [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance last week rose 8,000 and reversed the little revised 9,000 worker decline during the prior period. At 308,000 claims remained low but up slightly from the lowest levels near 280,000 reached [...]

The median sales price of a new single family home fell 9.3% to $217,000 during September. Though the August level of prices was revised up, the year to year change of -9.7% was the worst since 1970 and it lowered prices below the [...]

Orders for civilian aircraft & parts nearly tripled m/m during September and propelled total new orders for durable goods up 7.8%. That followed a little revised 0.1% dip during August and it beat Consensus expectations for a 2.0% [...]