Economy in Brief: February 2020

Markit flash (early release and preliminary) PMIs show (1) still-weak conditions in the EMU, (2) stabilization in the services sector, (3) an ongoing improvement in the manufacturing sector PMI even though it continues to show sector [...]

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that sales of existing homes during January fell 1.3% (+9.6 y/y) to 5.460 million (SAAR) from 5.530 million in December, revised from 5.540 million. The Action Economics Forecast [...]

The Conference Board's Composite Index of Leading Economic Indicators strengthened 0.8% during January following an unrevised 0.3% December decline. It was the largest increase since October 2017. The latest reading compared to a 0.4% [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance rose 2,000 to 205,000 (-11.3% y/y) during the week ended February 8..... Continuing claims for unemployment insurance in the week ended February 1 dropped to 1.698 million (-2.7% y/y)..... [...]

The German consumer sentiment projection for March is available way ahead of consumer readings for Italy, France and the United Kingdom. There is erosion present in the German data and some of that is put at the feet of the [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance rose 4,000 to 210,000 (-1.4% y/y) during the week ended February 15 from 206,000 in the prior week, revised from 205,000. The February 15 result equaled the Action Economics Forecast Survey at [...]

The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia reported that its General Factory Sector Business Conditions Index improved to 36.7 during February from January's 17.0. It was the highest level in three years. An index of 10.2 had been [...]

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that its Mortgage Loan Application Index fell 6.4% w/w in the week ending on February 14. This was the first decline in four weeks. Compared to a year ago, applications were up 76.7%. Purchase [...]