Economy in Brief: 2008

According to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), small business optimism rose another 2.0% during September to the highest level since February. The rise to an index level of 91.1 added to a gain of 3.3% during [...]

China chalked up another monthly record surplus on its trade in goods in September, rising $3.8 billion to $28.8 billion. Exports increased by $1.8 billion and imports declined by $2.0 billion, as shown in the first chart. So far this [...]

The OECD Leading Economic Indicators (trend adjusted cyclical indicators) are continuing to show distress. They point to continuing declines in the economies of the key OECD countries and regions. This report is updated through August [...]

Total U.S. import prices fell slid 3.7% last month after the revised August decline of 2.6%. The September skid contrasted with expectations for a 2.5% drop. Petroleum prices fell about as they did in August, by 9.0%. So far this [...]

The U.S. foreign trade deficit improved in August to an expected $59.1B. That reversed most of the m/m deterioration during July to $61.3B which was a deficit shallower than reported initially. So far this year the monthly trade [...]

The U.S. foreign trade deficit improved in August to an expected $59.1B. That reversed most of the m/m deterioration during July to $61.3B which was a deficit shallower than reported initially. So far this year the monthly trade [...]

The INSEE business climate indicator fell to 92 in September from 94 in August. It now stands in the 38th percentile of its range since 1990. The likely trends assessment by participants at a -41 reading is in the 16th percentile of [...]

Last week, initial claims for unemployment insurance fell 20,000 from the previous week's cycle high of 498,000, which was a level revised up slightly.The four-week moving average also moved to a new high for this cycle of 482,500 [...]