Economy in Brief: 2016

The closely watched ZEW expectations index rose by nearly 6 points in October, rising to 6.2 from 0.5 in September. The current index advanced to 59.5 from 55.1, a gain of about four points. These are not large monthly gains and they [...]

The Labor Market Conditions Index from the Federal Reserve Board includes 19 indicators of labor market activity, covering the broad categories of unemployment and underemployment. These include jobs, workweeks, wages, vacancies, [...]

The National Federation of Independent Business reported that its Small Business Optimism Index eased 0.3% during September to 94.1 following an unrevised 0.2% August dip. Optimism remained down 6.2% versus its peak in December 2014. [...]

The OECD LEIs remain mired in the muck of readings below the breakeven value of 100, but close enough for the OECD to continue to look for relatively stable growth. The overarching OECD index, the U.S. index, the U.K. index, the Japan [...]

Consumer credit outstanding increased $25.9 billion (6.8% y/y) during August following a $17.8 billion July improvement, revised from $17.7 billion. It was the strongest rise since September 2015, and one of the firmest of the [...]

Inventories at the wholesale level fell 0.2% (-0.1% y/y) during August after a 0.1% easing in July, revised from no change. The advance report had indicated a 0.1% August dip. Inventories of durable goods rose 0.2% (-1.9% y/y) after a [...]

The job market is settling onto a path of moderate improvement. Nonfarm payroll employment increased 156,000 (1.7% y/y) during September following revised gains of 167,000 and 252,000 during the prior two months. These where reported [...]

The job market is settling onto a path of moderate improvement. Nonfarm payroll employment increased 156,000 (1.7% y/y) during September following revised gains of 167,000 and 252,000 during the prior two months. These where reported [...]