Economy in Brief: 2018

As the chart amply demonstrates the EMU trade surplus has been under pressure for some time. Since late 2016 imports have been outpacing exports on a consistent basis although the differences in the export and import growth rates have [...]

Total retail sales improved 0.1% (6.6% y/y) during August following a 0.7% July gain, revised from 0.5%. A 0.4% increase had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Excluding motor vehicles and parts, retail sales [...]

Initial unemployment insurance applications decreased to 204,000 (-23.6% y/y) during the week ended September 8 from 205,000 in the prior week, revised from 203,000. It remained the lowest level since December 1969. The Action [...]

The German HICP is flat in August; its domestic CPI is up by 0.1% and the CPI excluding energy is flat. German inflation measured from 12-months to 6-months to 3-months shows a loss of momentum with year over year inflation at 1.9% to [...]

Moderation in consumer price inflation was broad-based during August. Consumer prices rose 0.2% (2.7% y/y) following a 0.2% July gain. A 0.3% increase had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. The CPI excluding food & [...]

Industrial production trends show output slowing across all three sectors in the chart of 12-month rates of growth. Sequential growth rates from 12-months and less (table) do not show a steady deceleration but do show a legacy of [...]

The headline Final Demand Producer Price Index using new methodology eased 0.1% during August (+2.8% y/y) after holding steady in July. It was the first decline since February 2017. A 0.2% increase had been expected in the Action [...]

The ZEW financial experts in Germany weigh in each month on their perceptions of the state of the German economy and several other key economies or economic units. In September, ZEW experts see actual conditions as little-changed. [...]