Economy in Brief

US retail sales rose 0.7% last month following an upwardly revised 0.8% increase in November. The increase, however, fell short of Consensus expectations for a 0.9% rise. In addition, sales less autos rose just half the expected 0.4% [...]

In December, employment in Australia rose a mere 2,100, and the unemployment rate was unchanged from November at 5.1%. Forecasts cited in one news service survey had looked for a 9,000 gain in employment and the 5.1% unemployment [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance increased 17,000 to 309,000 last week following a little revised 34,000 decline the week prior. Consensus expectations had been for 315,000 claims. During the last ten years there has been a [...]

The import prices fell 0.2% last month following the little revised 1.8% drop during November and contrasted with Consensus expectations for a 0.2% increase. Nonpetroleum again were weak and posted no change versus November. The [...]

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 [...]