Economy in Brief: 2016

Personal consumption expenditures increased 0.4% (3.7% y/y) during June, the same as in May. The figures reflect Friday's revisions to the National Income & Product Accounts. A 0.3% June increase had been expected in the Action [...]

Global manufacturing gauges stuck close to the 50 breakeven mark or fell below it in July. Seven reporters in this group of 15 have values below 50. The highest MFG PMI value is from Germany at 53.8 and for the period from February of [...]

The value of construction put-in-place declined 0.6% (+0.3% y/y) during June after 0.1% May dip, revised from -0.8%. A 0.5% increase was expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Building activity in the private sector eased [...]

The ISM Composite Index of manufacturing activity eased to 52.6 during July from an unrevised 53.2 in June. A reading of 53.0 had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. The decline left the average for the first seven [...]

Economic growth of 1.2% (SAAR, 1.2% y/y) during the second quarter followed a 0.8% Q1 gain, revised from 1.1%. GDP's increase disappointed expectations for a 2.6% rise in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Inventory decumulation [...]

The EU and EMU rates of unemployment were steady in June. Among the earliest EMU members unemployment fell in June in only two of 11 counties, Spain and The Netherlands. The rate also fell in Greece for April which is the most topical [...]

Chicago purchasing managers reported that their Business Barometer slipped to 55.8 this month following an unrevised jump during June to 56.8. The figure remained near the highest level since January 2015, and exceeded expectations [...]

The employment cost index for civilian workers increased 0.6% (2.3% y/y) during Q2'16 following a similar Q1 rise. This latest gain was in line with the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Wages and salaries also increased 0.6% (2.5% [...]