Economy in Brief: April 2019

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) estimated that Q1 real GDP rose 3.2% annualized, advancing almost a full percentage point above the consensus estimate of 2.3%. The headline gain in real GDP proved to be a big surprise, but the [...]

The EU Commission indexes fell relatively sharply in April, dropping 1.6 points month-to-month and shedding 7.3 point over 12 months. The 12-month drop is the largest of its kind since the index fell by 8.3 points in November 2012. [...]

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas reported in its Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey that the General Business Activity Index declined to 2.0 during April and added to its March retreat. Nevertheless, the index remained well above [...]

Consumer spending strengthened during March at the expense of savings account balances. Personal consumption expenditures surged 0.9% (4.4% y/y) following a 0.1% February uptick and a 0.3% January rise, revised from 0.1%. It was the [...]

The economy began 2019 on a firm footing. Gross domestic product, adjusted for price inflation, increased 3.2% during Q1 2019. The gain lifted growth during the last four quarters to 3.2%, the strongest increase since Q2 2015. The [...]

The economy began 2019 on a firm footing. Gross domestic product, adjusted for price inflation, increased 3.2% during Q1 2019. The gain lifted growth during the last four quarters to 3.2%, the strongest increase since Q2 2015. The [...]

Retail sales in Japan scored an increase in March after two consecutive monthly declines. Still, the just-completed first quarter is showing sales fall at a 4.2% annual rate. The sequential growth rates show that sales have been [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased to 192,000 (-15.4% year-on-year) during the week ended April 13 Continuing claims for unemployment insurance declined 63,000 to 1.653 million (-10.7% y/y) in the week ending April [...]