Economy in Brief: 2020

Finland's aggregate export and import price indexes have tracked one another closely over the past decade. Over the past five years the terms of trade (ratio of export prices to import prices) have fallen by 0.1% at an annual rate. [...]

• Activity index declines to 1.18 in July. • Production and income indicators led the gain. Sales, orders and inventories decline. The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago's National Activity Index decreased to 1.18 in July from an [...]

The flash PMIs from Markit show a widespread step back in August from the surge made in July. Of course, the gain in PMI values, accomplished in July, remain mostly in place. But the backtracking in the month-to-month gain casts doubt [...]

• Existing home sales rose last month to highest level since December 2006. • Sales strength was broad-based across the nation. • Pricing power picked up. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that sales of existing [...]

• Component movement was mixed. • Expectations remain depressed. The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia reported that its General Factory Sector Business Conditions Index fell in August to 17.2% from 24.1% during July. It was the [...]

• Component movement was mixed. • Expectations remain depressed. The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia reported that its General Factory Sector Business Conditions Index fell in August to 17.2% from 24.1% during July. It was the [...]

The German PPI rose month-to-month for the second month in a row. However, its year-on-year change fell for the sixth month in a row. The monthly upward pressure is still modest with prices rising by only 0.2% in July after tacking [...]

• Component gains are somewhat mixed. • Coincident indicators rise further. • Lagging indicators indicate less economic stress. The Conference Board reported that its Composite Index of Leading Economic Indicators increased 1.4% [...]