Economy in Brief: 2018

The National Association of Realtors reported that sales of existing homes during August were unchanged at 5.340 million (SAAR, -1.5%). July's figure was unrevised. Sales remained at the lowest level since February 2016, down 6.6% [...]

Initial unemployment insurance applications decreased to 201,000 (-21.2% y/y) during the week ended September 15 from 204,000 in the prior week, which was unrevised. This was the smallest number of initial claims since November 15, [...]

The Conference Board's Composite Index of Leading Economic Indicators increased 0.4% (6.4% y/y) during August after a 0.7% July gain, revised from 0.6%. A 0.5% rise had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. The index [...]

The Philadelphia Federal Reserve reported that its General Factory Sector Business Conditions Index rose to 22.9 during September following an August decline to 11.9. The rise compared to expectations for a lesser increase to 15.0 in [...]

The U.S. current account deficit fell to $101.5 billion during Q2 2018 from $121.7 billion in Q1. It was the smallest deficit since Q4 2015 and compared to $103.5 billion expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. As a percent [...]

The UK inflation rate rose unexpectedly in August headline inflation zoomed to a 2.7% annual rate, up from 2.5% just last month. The rise in inflation was unexpected. Core inflation lags the release of headline inflation. Core [...]

New home building activity improved last month. Total housing starts rose 9.2% during August (9.4% y/y) to 1.282 million (AR) from 1.174 million in July, revised from 1.168 million. That followed an 11.4% June decline to 1.177 [...]

The Composite Housing Market Index from the National Association of Home Builders-Wells Fargo remained unchanged during September at 67. August's figure was unrevised and the index remained below its December 2017 high of 74. [...]