Economy in Brief: October 2005

US real GDP grew 3.8% (AR) last quarter and slightly beat Consensus expectations for 3.6% growth. That strength versus 3.3% growth during 2Q '05 came despite an unspecified subtraction (perhaps 0.2 percentage points) due to Hurricanes [...]

The mortgage market in the UK picked up some steam once again in September, according to data reported this morning by the British Bankers' Association (BBA). The number of new mortgage loans approved for home purchase was 70,105, up [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell 28,000 to 328,000 last week versus a little revised 35,000 decline during the prior period. Consensus expectations had been for 340,000 claims. The four-week moving average of initial [...]

The Index of Help-Wanted Advertising from the Conference Board edged up in September to 39 from 38 in August which was upwardly revised. During the last ten years there has been a 61% correlation between the level of help-wanted [...]

New single-family home sales edged up 2.1% last month to 1.222M but that followed an 11.6% drop in August which was deeper than estimated initially. Consensus expectations had been for 1.25M sales in September. Sales fell a sharp [...]

A 41.6% m/m decline in nondefense aircraft orders combined with a 3.5% drop in defense aircraft bookings to pull total orders for durable goods down 2.1% last month. The 3.8% rise in August orders was upwardly revised and Consensus [...]

A 41.6% m/m decline in nondefense aircraft orders combined with a 3.5% drop in defense aircraft bookings to pull total orders for durable goods down 2.1% last month. The 3.8% rise in August orders was upwardly revised and Consensus [...]

The Japanese trade balance continues to diminish, a direct reflection of its need to import nearly all of the petroleum it uses. In September, the surplus was ¥556.5 billion (seasonally adjusted), down from ¥610.6 in August, ¥828.3 [...]