Economy in Brief: 2009

The Conference Board's Index of Leading Economic Indicators suggested pending economic recovery with a 1.0% September increase that was the sixth consecutive monthly rise. The 5.7% increase during those six months was the strongest [...]

The recent improvement in the labor market stalled last week, but the trend toward improvement seems still in place. The Labor Department indicated that initial claims for unemployment insurance increased to 531,000 from 520,000, [...]

The recent improvement in the labor market stalled last week, but the trend toward improvement seems still in place. The Labor Department indicated that initial claims for unemployment insurance increased to 531,000 from 520,000, [...]

The Mortgage Bankers Association indicated that mortgage applications fell 13.7% last week. The drop left the weekly total down from the end of last month as earlier gains in applications slackened. Nevertheless, the monthly average [...]

UK industrial orders according to the CBI up-minus-down net balance indicators fell in October. At a reading of -51 the orders index is above its cycle low of -59 but down from September’s -48. Export orders at a still weak -46 were [...]

UK industrial orders according to the CBI up-minus-down net balance indicators fell in October. At a reading of -51 the orders index is above its cycle low of -59 but down from September’s -48. Export orders at a still weak -46 were [...]

Industrial orders for Italy and France show strong signs of having shaken off the worst of the recession as each of them has rebounded sharply into 2009. But in August their paths have diverged. France continues to show signs of [...]

The pump price for regular gasoline increased last week to $2.57 per gallon and the gain reversed most of the decline since early last month. Moreover, prices remain up from the December low of $1.61. In addition, prices recently [...]