Economy in Brief: 2004

Reported job cut announcements in October remained high according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas. At 101,840, announcements were at the third highest level of the year and off just 5.6% from September when they surged 45.5% m/m. The [...]

Factory orders fell 0.4% after a 0.3% August decline. Durable goods orders rose 0.2% and that was unrevised from the advance report. The advance report of a 2.6% rise in nondefense capital goods orders less aircraft was revised up [...]

The Institute for Supply Management reported that the October Business Activity Index for the non-manufacturing sector rebounded 3.1 points to 59.8 following a 1.5 point decline in September. Consensus expectations had been for a more [...]

The Institute for Supply Management reported that the October Business Activity Index for the non-manufacturing sector rebounded 3.1 points to 59.8 following a 1.5 point decline in September. Consensus expectations had been for a more [...]

The downward trend in German retail sales that began in late 2003 continues. In September, the headline series--the value of retail sales excluding autos and gas stations--declined 0.41% from August and was 1.93% below September, [...]

Chain store sales fell for the third consecutive period. A 0.3% decline last week placed the October average 0.1% below September, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)-UBS. During the last ten years there [...]

Chain store sales fell for the third consecutive period. A 0.3% decline last week placed the October average 0.1% below September, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)-UBS. During the last ten years there [...]

Export data released today show that the trend that began in early 2003 toward increased Australian exports to Asia relative to the US and Europe has continued. In September, 2004, exports to Asian countries were significantly above [...]