Economy in Brief

As the following charts and table illustrate, there's been something of a building boom in South Africa. Over the last few months, however, some areas of construction have been slowing. Statistics South Africa reported today that [...]

A 4.6% decline in the total number of mortgage applications last week reversed most of the increases during the prior two weeks and left applications early in July about even (+0.2%) with the June average which fell 1.5% from May. [...]

The July Composite Housing Market Index at 39 was at its lowest level since late 1991. The index compiled by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) fell from 42 in June and compared to Consensus expectations for a reading of [...]

Housing starts fell 5.3% last month to 1.850M units, a decline that outpaced Consensus expectations for a lesser drop to 1.90M starts. For 2Q starts averaged 1.878M, down 11.5% from 1Q and it was the lowest quarterly level since mid [...]

Consumer prices (CPI-U) rose an expected 0.2% during June. The 0.3% rise in prices less food & energy was, however, like the previous month firmer than expectations for a 0.2% gain. The upside surprise in "core" price inflation [...]

Consumer prices (CPI-U) rose an expected 0.2% during June. The 0.3% rise in prices less food & energy was, however, like the previous month firmer than expectations for a 0.2% gain. The upside surprise in "core" price inflation [...]

The ZEW institute of economic research polls some 300 institutional investors and analysts regarding their views of the current situation and their expectations of activity six months in the future. The excess of optimists over [...]

Versus the prior week, retail gasoline prices rose two cents last week to $2.99 per gallon (29.0% y/y). During June prices averaged $2.89. A further increase in retail gas prices may be in store this week as the spot market price for [...]