Economy in Brief

The U.S. foreign trade deficit in November narrowed to $64.2B from the record $68.1B the prior month which was revised slightly shallower from the initial estimate. Consensus expectations had been for a narrowing to $66.1B. Imports of [...]

The U.S. foreign trade deficit in November narrowed to $64.2B from the record $68.1B the prior month which was revised slightly shallower from the initial estimate. Consensus expectations had been for a narrowing to $66.1B. Imports of [...]

Five moderate-sized European countries reported industrial production today for November. That simple statement is about the only general statement we might make about their reports. It looks that one cannot make a simple, broad [...]

The total number of mortgage applications recovered 9.9% during the opening week of 2006 following four consecutive weeks of decline. The rise, however, was to a level up just 1.0% from the December average. Following four consecutive [...]

The total number of mortgage applications recovered 9.9% during the opening week of 2006 following four consecutive weeks of decline. The rise, however, was to a level up just 1.0% from the December average. Following four consecutive [...]

After a sharp rise in confidence among institutional investors and analysts in Germany last month, confidence increased meaningfully again in January. The excess of optimists over pessimists expecting improved conditions over the next [...]

The rise yesterday in gold prices to $540 per ounce was to a level not attained in twenty five years. It underscored several concerns over the potential for future inflationary price pressure including 1) speculation of an end to Fed [...]

The index of small business optimism from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) in December recovered a marginal 0.2% of the prior month's 2.4% drop. For the fourth quarter as a whole, optimism did improve 1.4% from [...]