Economy in Brief

Last week's jump in the U.S. average price for gasoline to $2.50 per gallon lifted prices 13.6% above the yearend 2005 level. This strength certainly reflects some pass through of this year's rise in crude oil prices. Crude costs are [...]

The total number of mortgage applications slumped 1.6% last week and continued the downtrend which began the middle of last year. Since the weekly peak last June, applications are down 36.3%. In March, applications are 2.4% below the [...]

The total number of mortgage applications slumped 1.6% last week and continued the downtrend which began the middle of last year. Since the weekly peak last June, applications are down 36.3%. In March, applications are 2.4% below the [...]

Indicators released today are pointing to an increase in the rate of growth of Finland's GDP in the first quarter from the 0.91% rate of the fourth quarter of 2005. The trend of the monthly total production series, which is a good [...]

Chain store sales slipped 0.1% lower last week after the prior period's 0.1% up tick, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)-UBS survey. The average level of sales so far in March is 1.4% ahead of the [...]

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods fell 1.4% last month. It was the largest decline in the index since April 2003 and easily outpaced Consensus expectations for a 0.3% decline. Producer prices less food & energy (core), [...]

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods fell 1.4% last month. It was the largest decline in the index since April 2003 and easily outpaced Consensus expectations for a 0.3% decline. Producer prices less food & energy (core), [...]

Producer prices in Germany rose 0.7% in February. Prices of intermediate goods were up 0.56%, those of investment goods fell 0.10% and prices of consumer goods were unchanged. The rise was due almost entirely to continued rising [...]