Economy in Brief

The U.S. federal government posted a deeper budget deficit during February of $119.2B versus last February's deficit of $113.9B. Nevertheless, the fiscal year to date budget deficit narrowed to $217.5B versus 223.4B during the first [...]

The National Association of Realtors reported that total existing home sales rose 5.2% m/m to 6.910M last month following a 2.7% January decline that was about half the drop initially estimated. Consensus expectations had been for [...]

Last week, initial claims for unemployment insurance reversed all of the upwardly revised increase the prior period. The 11,000 person decline to 302,000 compared with Consensus expectations for 305,000 claims. The latest figure [...]

The National Association of Realtors reported that total existing home sales rose 5.2% m/m to 6.910M last month following a 2.7% January decline that was about half the drop initially estimated. Consensus expectations had been for [...]

New orders for manufactured goods in Euro-Zone countries fell 5.9% in January, according to a report published today by Eurostat. This drop followed sizable increases of 4.9% and 5.3% in November and December, respectively, however, [...]

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 [...]