Economy in Brief: January 2014

The index of Leading Economic Indicators, published by the Conference Board, inched up 0.1% during December. That followed a 1.0% jump in November, revised from 0.8%, and missed the 0.2% expected gain in the Action Economics Forecast [...]

Sales of existing single-family homes in December improved a modest 1.0% (-0.6% y/y) to 4.870 million (AR) versus a downwardly revised 4.820 million in November. Sales remained 9.6% lower versus the August high and fell short of 4.930 [...]

The Chicago Federal Reserve reported that its National Activity Index (CFNAI) reversed most of its earlier increase and fell to 0.16 last month from 0.69 during November. As a result of the monthly decline, the three-month moving [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance of 326,000 during the week ended January 18 held near the prior week's level of 325,000, revised from 326,000. It was the lowest level since late-November. Expectations had been for an uptick [...]

The Markit PMI data in their flash incarnation showed an increase in the composite reading for the euro area in January. The composite rose to 53.16 from December's 52.06, marking only the second increase in a row. The composite [...]

Labor Force Participation Rates (%) Dec 2013 2008 2003 1998 1993 1988 Total 62.8 63.3 66.0 66.2 67.1 66.3 65.9 16-24 Years 54.8 55.0 58.8 61.6 65.9 66.1 68.4 25-34 Years 81.0 81.2 83.4 82.9 84.6 83.3 83.3 35-44 Years 82.1 82.2 84.1 [...]

Italy's trade surplus grew in November to ?3.8 billion from ?3.7 billion in October. The growing surplus- on the face of it- seems to be evidence that Italy's economy is growing and its competitiveness is improving. However, there is [...]

"It's tough to get good help these days" has long been potential employers' lament. The problem lately has been attributed to many factors; the early retirement of baby boomers, young potential workers staying in school, increased [...]