Economy in Brief

In July, the value of construction put in place dropped 1.2% following a little revised 0.4% gain during June. Consensus expectations had been for a 0.1% decline. The m/m drop was the largest since July 2001 and lowered the opening [...]

The Reserve Bank of Australia reported today its commodity price index for August. The overall index fell 0.8% from July in Australian dollar terms and rose 0.7% in US dollars. From a year ago, the A$ total is up 20.7%, and 20.8% in [...]

Consumer sentiment in late August firmed enough to limit the m/m decline for the full month to 3.2%, according to the University of Michigan. The full month reading of 82.0 compared favorably to Consensus expectations for a decline to [...]

At 54.5, the August composite index of manufacturing sector activity from the Institute for Supply Management was about stable with the July figure of 54.7. Consensus expectations had been for a reading of 54.9. During the last ten [...]

In August, nonfarm payrolls rose 128,000 and about matched Consensus expectations for a 125,000 gain. For the prior month, the increase was upwardly revised up slightly to 121,000. Year to date payrolls have risen an average 141,000 [...]

In August, nonfarm payrolls rose 128,000 and about matched Consensus expectations for a 125,000 gain. For the prior month, the increase was upwardly revised up slightly to 121,000. Year to date payrolls have risen an average 141,000 [...]

Consumers in the UK apparently reacted to the Bank of England's early August rate increase as they reported a significant increase in their concern over the the UK economic outlook in the August consumer confidence survey conducted by [...]

The Conference Board's Index of Help-Wanted Advertising dropped to new forty five year low of 32 in July after revised stability in June at 34. During the last ten years there has been a 57% correlation between the level of help- [...]