Economy in Brief

The National Association of Realtors reported that with a 2.0% m/m rise in August to 7.29 million, total existing home sales recovered nearly all of the prior month's downwardly revised 2.7% decline. Consensus expectations had been [...]

The National Association of Realtors reported that with a 2.0% m/m rise in August to 7.29 million, total existing home sales recovered nearly all of the prior month's downwardly revised 2.7% decline. Consensus expectations had been [...]

A recent focus in commodity markets has been on the damage to petroleum drilling & refining facilities caused by Hurricane Katrina and potentially from Hurricane Rita as well as the resultant price effects. Indeed, versus before [...]

A recent focus in commodity markets has been on the damage to petroleum drilling & refining facilities caused by Hurricane Katrina and potentially from Hurricane Rita as well as the resultant price effects. Indeed, versus before [...]

Japan's trade surplus shrank markedly in August from a year ago, reaching ¥116.3 billion from ¥572.9 billion. Exports grew vigorously, up 9.1%, but imports leaped 21.1%. As might be expected, petroleum accounted for a significant [...]

The August Composite Index of Leading Economic Indicators reported by the Conference Board fell 0.2% following a revised 0.1% dip in July. These declines and slight downward revisions to prior months' data lowered six-month growth in [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance rose another 8,000 w/w to 432,000 last week following an upwardly revised 97,000 surge the prior week. Consensus expectations had been for 450,000 claims. The Labor Department indicated that [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance rose another 8,000 w/w to 432,000 last week following an upwardly revised 97,000 surge the prior week. Consensus expectations had been for 450,000 claims. The Labor Department indicated that [...]