Economy in Brief: 2008

August industrial production plummeted 1.2% following a little-revised 0.1% uptick during July. Consensus expectations had been for no change in output last month. The latest monthly decline was the largest since September 2005. The [...]

E-zone industrial output is down for three months running. All sectors are lower m/m in July. Main EU/EMU countries have output lower in July with France and Spain as exceptions. But over three months all these large countries are [...]

The BOF indicator has been weak and it has been weakening. But in August the indicator put on the brakes, and actually rebounded. While every other EMU country is cutting, chopping or shaving its forecast the BoF has held firm on its [...]

The University of Michigan's reading of consumer sentiment in mid-September jumped 16.0% from August to an index level of 73.1. That was the highest level since January and the gain contrasted with Consensus expectations for a reading [...]

U.S. finished producer prices declined 0.9% during July following a revised 1.2% increase during June. The decline was roughly double Consensus expectations for a 0.5% drop. Lower energy prices pulled the overall PPI down with a 4.6% [...]

The Commerce Department reported that August retail sales fell 0.3%. The decline followed a revised 0.5% July drop that was deeper than reported initially. The June sales figures also were revised weaker. On a three-month basis [...]

The Commerce Department reported that August retail sales fell 0.3%. The decline followed a revised 0.5% July drop that was deeper than reported initially. The June sales figures also were revised weaker. On a three-month basis [...]

Japan’s machinery orders fell sharply in July while the so called core order series fell, but by less than had been expected. Domestic orders have been listless for a year while foreign orders have been getting quite weak since early [...]