Economy in Brief: February 2021

Online retail sales, more formally known as "E-Commerce sales," edged lower once again in Q4 on a seasonally adjusted basis; according to the U.S. Census Bureau, they fell 1.2% after a 1.1% decrease in Q3. These did follow a 31.9% [...]

PMI values largely improved in February. Yet, for many countries as well as for the EMU, economic contraction remains in place. Germany and the United States are exceptions with each showing PMI values above 50; the U.S. is showing [...]

• Existing home sales near 2006 high. • Inventory of unsold homes continues to fall sharply. • Sales remain mixed regionally. The market for previously owned homes remains strong. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported [...]

• • PREVIOUS>>>>>>>>>Import prices grew a greater-than-expected 0.9% during December (-0.3% year-on-year)...... PREVIOUS>>>>>>Export prices increased 1.1% in December (0.2% y/y)......... The import and export price series can be found [...]

While Belgian confidence ticked higher in February, it remains with a net negative reading and is still largely exceeded by all previous values from 2013 forward. Evaluated versus data since 1991, the Belgian confidence headline [...]

• Headline index reverses part of January's strength. • Movement amongst subindexes is mixed; employment strengthens. • Prices paid continue to rise. The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's Factory Sector Business Conditions Index [...]

• PREVIOUS>>>>Initial claims for unemployment insurance declined to 793,000 during the week ended February 6...... For more details, please see the September 3 commentary on jobless claims. Data on weekly unemployment claims going [...]

• Pandemic-related initial claims reach largest amount in almost five months. • Continuing claims in regular state programs continue downtrend. • Insured jobless rate unchanged. Initial claims for unemployment insurance rose 13,000 in [...]