Economy in Brief: 2019

The Conference Board's Composite Index of Leading Economic Indicators was unchanged during August (1.1% y/y) following a 0.4% July increase, revised from 0.5%. The index has been trending sideways since late-last year. A 0.1% increase [...]

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that sales of existing homes rose again in August, reaching 5.490 million, a 1.3% (2.6% y/y) increase from July's 5.420 million, which was unrevised and up 2.5% from June. The August [...]

The National Association of Realtors reported that sales of existing homes increased 2.5% during July to 5.420 million (0.6% y/y).... The data on existing home sales, prices and affordability are compiled by the National Association [...]

The U.S. current account deficit narrowed to $128.2 billion during Q2'19 from an upwardly-revised $136.2 bil. during Q1'19 (was $130.4 bil.). The Action Economics Forecast Survey anticipated a $127.4 bil. deficit. As a percent of GDP, [...]

The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia reported that its General Factory Sector Business Conditions Index declined to 12.0 in September following a reading of 16.8 in August. It was the lowest figure in three months, but was higher [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance in the week ending September 14 increased 2,000 to 208,000 (-1.9% y/y) from an upwardly revised 206,000 in the previous week (originally 204,000). The Action Economics Forecast Survey expected [...]

The Federal Reserve lowered the target for the Fed Funds rate by 25 basis points to a range of 1.75% to 2.00% at today's FOMC meeting. The action was expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey, which does not foresee further [...]

High inflation is one less thing that the Bank of England has to worry above as the U.K. CPIH was flat in August, dropping its year-over-year pace to 1.7%, its slowest annual gain since November 2016. The 'core' excluding food, [...]