Economy in Brief: 2021

Compare current activity to one year ago Japan continues to have a slow rollout out from under the effects of the coronavirus. The far-right hand column of the table looks at the percentage change in each measure in the table on its [...]

• Component changes are mixed. • Employment measure indicates further growth. • Prices surge. The Empire State Manufacturing Index of General Business Conditions increased to 17.4 in March from 12.1 in February. A reading of 14.3 had [...]

• TEST The Financial Accounts data are in Haver's FFUNDS database. Associated information is compiled in the Integrated Macroeconomic Accounts produced jointly with the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA); these are carried in Haver's [...]

• Total borrowing in U.S. economy = 24.3% of GDP in Q4, up from 15.4% in Q3. • Federal government biggest borrowing sector, at $2.5 trillion in Q4 (SAAR). • Financial institutions were next largest, borrowing $1.1 trillion in Q4; had [...]

The German HICP was flat in February as the core fell by 0.1%. The German CPI went its own way rising by 0.4% in February with the core up by 0.2% month-to-month. The annual data show the HICP up by 1.6% with the core up by 1.7% while [...]

• Gasoline & food prices strengthen. • Core finished goods price inflation moderates. • Service prices edge higher following January spike. The Producer Price Index for final demand rose 0.5% (2.8% y/y) in February following a 1.3% [...]

• Initial claims fall to lowest level in four months. • Continuing claims also post sharp decline. • Insured jobless rate drops again. The job market continues to exhibit signs of healing. Initial claims for unemployment insurance [...]

Twelve of the earliest EMU members had reported IP for January. Only three of them showed a decline in January output month-to-month (Germany, Spain and Portugal). Sweden, a non-EMU country, also had an output decline. In December [...]