Economy in Brief: 2013

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that the total mortgage market index improved by 1.3% (-54.7% y/y) last week following their slight down-tick during the prior week. Applications to refinance an existing loan led the gain [...]

The International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs reported that chain store sales slipped last week (+1.8% y/y). They began this month 0.8% below the September average after falling 1.3% during all of that month. During [...]

The price for a gallon of regular gasoline dropped 6 cents last week to $3.37 (-12.5% y/y). Prices were at their lowest level since the end of January, down from the $3.78 per gallon peak reached late in February. Haver Analytics [...]

There is some consternation this morning that German orders fell in August. The drop of 0.3% was small but it makes the second drop in a row and that reduces the year-over-year growth rate to 3%. Should we be worried? While I remain [...]

The National Federation of Independent Business reported that its Small Business Optimism Index fell to 93.9 last month. This reversed its August improvement to 94.2. The index has been moving sideways for the last six months. Moving [...]

Individuals are feeling confident enough to make continued use of their available credit lines. Consumer credit outstanding rose by $13.6 billion in August, continuing firm at 5.9% y/y. The gain followed an unrevised $10.4 billion [...]

Individuals are feeling confident enough to make continued use of their available credit lines. Consumer credit outstanding rose by $13.6 billion in August, continuing firm at 5.9% y/y. The gain followed an unrevised $10.4 billion [...]

Individuals are feeling confident enough to make continued use of their available credit lines. Consumer credit outstanding rose by $13.6 billion in August, continuing firm at 5.9% y/y. The gain followed an unrevised $10.4 billion [...]