Economy in Brief: November 2020

• State initial claims climbed another 30,000 in Nov 21 week. • Continuing claims decreased for state but both PUA and PEUC increase. • Insured unemployment rate continues downtrend. Initial claims for regular state unemployment [...]

• Orders again surprise to upside in October with upward revision to September. • Sixth consecutive monthly increase in orders. • Shipments jumped; inventories rose; order backlogs eased. Manufacturers' orders for durable goods [...]

• Export growth eases while import gain accelerates. The advance estimate of the U.S. trade deficit in goods deepened to $80.29 billion during October from September's $79.36 billion, revised from $80.7 billion. The Action Economics [...]

• Mortgage applications rebound following two weeks of decline. • Applications for both purchase and refinancing post marked increases. • Fixed mortgage rates fall to new all-time lows. The Mortgage Bankers Association Mortgage Loan [...]

With a third wave of infection coursing its way through Japan's economy, the labor market continues to make some progress. Japan's infections peaked in April, August, and now, again, in November. The new case count has soared to an [...]

The IFO climate index rose to a net value of 1.2 in November from 1.1 in October as current conditions weakened to a net of 5.1 form 5.9 and expectations weakened sharply to -8.1 from -1.4. As the virus impacts Germany, the current [...]

• Confidence declines significantly, both m/m and y/y. • View of present conditions eases, but expectations collapse. • Older individuals grow more pessimistic. The Conference Board's consumer confidence survey indicated widespread [...]

• Home price gain sets record for second straight month. • Prices strengthen across the country. The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index jumped 1.7% during September following an unrevised 1.5% August increase. The [...]