Economy in Brief

A 2,000 increase in initial claims for unemployment insurance to 326,000 reversed only a piece of the prior week's revised 6,000 decline. Consensus expectations had been for 323,000 claims. The four-week moving average of initial [...]

The preliminary reading of consumer sentiment in November from the University of Michigan rose 7.7% to 79.9, the highest level in three months. Consensus expectations had been for less of an improvement to 76.8. During the last ten [...]

Import prices fell an expected 0.3% last month following the revised 2.3% spike in September. Petroleum prices were the source of weakness as they reversed more than half of the prior month's gain with a 4.4% drop. Crude oil prices [...]

The combination of higher oil prices, higher gasoline imports and lost aircraft exports due to the Boeing strike pushed the September U.S. foreign trade deficit deeper to a record $66.1B from a little revised $59.2B in August. [...]

The combination of higher oil prices, higher gasoline imports and lost aircraft exports due to the Boeing strike pushed the September U.S. foreign trade deficit deeper to a record $66.1B from a little revised $59.2B in August. [...]

The riots in France are widely believed to be linked to unemployment conditions, particularly among young people from North African immigrant families. As we discussed here September 30, national unemployment stands at just under 10%, [...]

Last week, the total number of mortgage applications recovered about half of the prior period's decline with a 2.3% rise according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. The modest increase followed weekly declines from June to October [...]

Last week, the total number of mortgage applications recovered about half of the prior period's decline with a 2.3% rise according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. The modest increase followed weekly declines from June to October [...]