Economy in Brief: 2004

Initial claims for unemployment insurance rose 16,000 last week to 333,000 following the huge 43,000 drop the week prior that was little revised. Consensus expectations had been for a larger rise to 345,000. The 4-week moving average [...]

The Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) rose 0.1% last month, half the Consensus expectation. Less food and energy, the rise in the "core CPI also was half expectations and the third 0.1% gain in a row. Deflation in consumer goods prices [...]

The Philadelphia Fed’s September index of general business conditions in the manufacturing sector fell much more than expected to 13.4, the lowest in nearly a year. The level, however, still suggested positive growth. The 15.1 point [...]

The Bank of Japan today published "flow of funds" accounts for Q2. These comprehensive data are similar in structure to the Federal Reserve's accounts for the US. In Haver databases, the Japanese figures are maintained in the [...]

The index of mortgage applications compiled by the Mortgage Bankers Association slipped 2.0% last week following a strong 7.7% gain the week prior. So far in September mortgage applications are 5.6% ahead of August. Purchase [...]

Total business inventories rose 0.9% in July, marking the eleventh consecutive month of accumulation. Consensus expectations were for a 0.7% increase. During the last ten years there has been a 60% correlation between the y/y change [...]

The Empire State Index of General Business Conditions in New York's manufacturing industries recovered most of the prior month's skid with a 15.1 point rise in September to 28.34. All of the activity components of the survey [...]

Industrial production rose just 0.1% following an upwardly revised 0.6% gain in July. Market forecasters had looked for a 0.5% increase but the disappointment was that utility output fell 2.4% and mining output fell 1.1%. Production [...]