Economy in Brief: 2010

Labor productivity fell last quarter. A modest uptick had been expected, but the drop is a natural result of slower output growth coupled with a faster increase in labor hours worked. Nonfarm business sector productivity fell 0.9% [...]

On the surface German inflation trends are excellent. The HICP is decelerating from a meager 1.2% Yr/Yr to 0.7% over six-months to less than one-half of one percent over three-months. The German domestic inflation measure is actually [...]

Consumers still are shying away from carrying credit balances. At least they're looking to lower the balances they have. Consumer credit outstanding fell $1.3B during June after a $5.3B May decline that was smaller than reported [...]

Despite there being strength in industrial orders German IP took a set-back in June falling by 0.6% as MFG IP fell by 0.8%. However this drop follows a sharp 2.9% gain in May and it leaves the three month growth rate only marginally [...]

The already weak labor market suffered an unexpected setback last week. Initial claims for jobless insurance rose to 479,000 from 460,000, revised up from 457,000, during the prior week. The latest level was the highest since early- [...]

German growth in orders continues to be lead by foreign demand. Despite a surge in orders in June the Yr/Yr pace in overall orders is stepping down from its highest pace of several months ago. Over 12-months foreign orders are up by [...]

According to the outplacement firm of Challenger, Grey & Christmas the level of layoffs during July rose slightly to 41,676, the third increase in as many months. Despite the latest upward drift in layoffs, the level remains down by [...]

The U.S. service sector is holding up despite slower growth elsewhere. The July Composite Index for the service and construction sectors from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) improved slightly to 54.3 after its June dip to [...]