Economy in Brief: 2009

Though oil prices have risen, the recession in the U.S. economy has prompted a sharp cutback in the dollar amount of oil imports. That cutback helped the international trade deficit to narrow during August to $30.7.0B versus a little- [...]

The Bank of France monthly business survey continues to show a strong uptrend. The overall industry sentiment index (in red at the bottom of the table) scored a reading of 92 up from 89 in August, a standing of 30% in its range of [...]

The labor market signaled improvement again. Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell last week to the lowest level since early-January. The Labor Department indicated that claims fell to 521,000 from an upwardly revised 554,000 [...]

The labor market signaled improvement again. Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell last week to the lowest level since early-January. The Labor Department indicated that claims fell to 521,000 from an upwardly revised 554,000 [...]

There's been no let-up in the deleveraging of consumer balance sheets. For the seventh consecutive month, the Federal Reserve reported that consumer credit outstanding has fallen. During August, it was down by $12.0, or 4.0% y/y, and [...]

Liquidity has long been viewed as having the potential for fueling inflationary problems for an economy. Before that problem actually emerges, several "market-based" indicators help provide a market view of the pricing outlook. While [...]

Order Trends: German new orders growth was extended as foreign orders snapped back after a one-month decline. Domestic orders fell by 1.9% after surging by 9.5% in July. Orders have been rising steadily, strongly, over the past six [...]

Order Trends: German new orders growth was extended as foreign orders snapped back after a one-month decline. Domestic orders fell by 1.9% after surging by 9.5% in July. Orders have been rising steadily, strongly, over the past six [...]