Economy in Brief

The Conference Board reported that the Composite Index of Leading Economic Indicators fell 0.2% last month, as expected. The prior month's previously reported decline was revised slightly deeper. Gains amongst the leaders' component [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance last week were much higher than Consensus expectations for 415,000. Claims rose 7.3% w/w to 442,000 and reversed virtually all of the prior period's decline. Claims in the prior week were [...]

The Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) rose slightly less than Consensus expectations for a 0.4% rise. The 0.3% increase again was boosted by higher energy prices. The CPI less food and energy was unchanged for the first month since [...]

Industrial production declined in February in Germany and Italy and decelerated in France. The slowdown in activity in three of the major Euro-zone countries even before the outbreak of war in Iraq, which began on March 20th, suggests [...]

Industrial production fell unexpectedly by 0.5% last month. Consensus expectations had been for a 0.2% decline. The preliminary report that output rose slightly in February was revised to show a slight decline. Despite these declines, [...]

Total business inventories rose twice Consensus expectations for a 0.3% gain. The 0.6% rise was the tenth consecutive monthly increase and that followed decumulation which extended through 2001 and into last year. Retail inventories [...]

Retail sales in March rose 2.1% and were much stronger than Consensus expectations for a 0.4% rise. The sales decline in February was lessened due to shallower declines in sales of building materials and apparel. Sales in 1Q rose at a [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance last week were lower than Consensus expectations for 430,000. Claims fell 8.6% w/w to 405,000 and reversed virtually all of the prior week's jump. Claims in the prior week were revised down [...]