Economy in Brief: September 2012

The German IFO business climate index fell in September to 101.4 (2005=100) from 102.3 in August. It was for the fifth straight month of decline. The climate is determined by current conditions and expectations, both of which [...]

The recession has been revisited. The National Activity Index (CFNAI) from the Chicago Federal Reserve deteriorated to -0.87 during August from a little revised -0.12 in July. The latest reading was the lowest since June 2009, the [...]

The job market continues to show signs of improvement as mass layoffs in the U.S. during August continued lower. The Labor Department reported that layoffs of 50 or more persons from a single firm fell to 1,016, the lowest level in [...]

The EMU FLASH PMI indicators moved in opposite directions in September. This should not be too much of surprise but neither should the results be misconstrued. And there is some danger in that. EMU is not stabilizing as much as it [...]

The Leading Economic Indicator index from the Conference Board matched expectations and edged 0.1% lower last month. That followed a revised 0.5% July gain, initially reported as 0.4%. Sixty percent of the component series had a [...]

The four-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose to 377,750 last week, its highest level since late-June. On a weekly basis,initial jobless insurance claims fell to 382,000 during the week ended September [...]

Japan's economic indices show faltering economic momentum. The economy-watcher gauge and its forward-looking measure are both easing. The NTC/Markit manufacturing sector gauge is weaker. The Teikoku manufacturing gauge echoes that [...]

Lower interest rates are fueling activity in the market for home mortgages. The Mortgage Bankers Association index of total mortgage applications slipped 0.2% last week (+21.2% y/y) but that followed an 11.1% increase during the prior [...]