Economy in Brief: 2015

The ADP/Moody's National Employment Report indicated that nonfarm private sector payrolls increased 190,000 during August following a 177,000 July rise, initially reported as 185,000. The gain fell short of consensus expectations for [...]

The PPI headline shows a monthly drop of 0.2% in July and a year-over-year decline of 2.1%. Two of the three PPI components are declining year-over-year. Those two are consumer goods and intermediate goods. Capital goods prices are up [...]

The light vehicle market remains on fire. Total sales of light vehicles increased 1.5% during August to 17.81 million units (SAAR, 2.8% y/y). It was the highest level of sales since July 2005. Light truck purchases led last month's [...]

The value of construction put-in-place increased 0.7% during July following an upwardly revised 0.7% rise in June. May's increase was revised higher to 2.3%. Three-month growth eased to 15.7% (AR), roughly half the growth as of June. [...]

The Composite Index from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) fell to 51.1 during August following an unrevised decline to 52.7 in July. It was the lowest level since May 2013. An unchanged 52.7 had been expected in the Action [...]

Economic weakening is real. Oil tried to put on a brave face earlier this week. The rumors of some unspecified Saudi deal swirled. But in the end there is no Saudi deal. And global growth is weak, undermining the ability for any deal [...]

Crude oil prices found new life last week. Following weakness through Wednesday which left WTI crude oil costs at $38.60 per barrel, prices surged on news of weakened production and speculation of more cutbacks to come. For the week, [...]

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas reported that its August Composite index of factory sector activity declined to -15.8, its weakest reading in three months. The production component was near break-even, up sharply from three months [...]