Economy in Brief: July 2006

U.S. real GDP growth last quarter slowed to 2.5% (AR) from 3.7% during the prior four quarters and the figure fell short of Consensus expectations for a 3.0% advance. Much of the disappointment stemmed from a meager 2.7% advance in [...]

Unemployment is falling in Europe. With the notable exception of the UK, unemployment rates are moving lower in most European countries. In May, the rates in Germany and France were both at their lowest since late 2002. Today, the [...]

The Conference Board's Index of Help-Wanted Advertising remained at its forty five year low of 33 in June. During the last ten years there has been a 57% correlation between the level of help-wanted advertising and the three month [...]

A 7,000 worker decline last week in initial claims for unemployment insurance to 298,000 followed a little revised 129,000 slide during the prior period and pulled claims to the lowest level in six weeks. Consensus expectations had [...]

New orders for durable goods surged 3.1% in June after an upwardly revised 0.3% increase during the prior month. Consensus expectations had been for a somewhat lesser 2.0% jump. An 8.8% rise in orders for nondefense aircraft & parts [...]

Sales of new single family home sales fell 3.0% during June to 1.131M (SAAR) and the prior month's increase was revised down sharply to just 0.5%. Consensus expectations had been for June sales of 1.17M. New home sales during the [...]

Sales of new single family home sales fell 3.0% during June to 1.131M (SAAR) and the prior month's increase was revised down sharply to just 0.5%. Consensus expectations had been for June sales of 1.17M. New home sales during the [...]

Yesterday, Louise Curley wrote about improving business confidence in three European nations, France, Italy and the Netherlands. In the UK the situation is somewhat ambiguous, according to the July survey of the Confederation of [...]