Economy in Brief: April 2014

Sales of existing single-family homes in March slipped 0.2% (-7.5% y/y) to 4.590 million (AR) versus an unrevised 4.600 million in February. Sales have declined in seven of the last eight months by a total 14.7%. The latest figure [...]

The U.S. House Price Index from the Federal Housing and Finance Agency (FHFA) increased 0.6% during February (6.9% y/y). That annual rate of appreciation has been fairly steady since early last year. During the last twelve months, [...]

Sweden continues to make progress on the employment front. In March employment improved by 0.7% after being flat in February and down slightly in January. Over three months, the employment growth rate is 2.9%, up from 2.4% over the [...]

The coming of better weather after a rough winter prompts drivers to take to the road. That helped push the price for a gallon of regular gasoline to $3.68 last week, up 4.2% y/y. Prices, nevertheless, remained below the $3.78 per [...]

The Chicago Federal Reserve reported that its National Activity Index (CFNAI) rose to 0.20 last month following its February recovery to 0.53, revised from 0.14. The latest reading remained down, nevertheless, versus November's high [...]

Industrial orders weakened in Italy in February. They fell by 3.1% but only after rising by 4.7% in January. Still, January represents a partial rebound from a 4.8% drop in December. Obviously, there has been a good deal of volatility [...]

The index of Leading Economic Indicators, published by the Conference Board, increased 0.8% (6.1% y/y) in March following an unrevised 0.5% February gain. A 0.7% rise was expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. The breadth [...]

The Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank reported that its General Business Conditions Index for April improved to 16.6. That added to its March improvement into positive territory after a weather-depressed negative reading in February. [...]