Economy in Brief: April 2021

• Sales rebound from weather-depressed February. • Gains spread throughout most of country. • Median home prices decline. New home sales surged last month to the highest level since August 2006. Sales of new single-family homes surged [...]

The U.K. Confederation of British Industry (CBI) survey saw its order component backtrack in April falling to -8 from -5 in March even as optimism on future output expectations gained purchase. Total orders have a queue standing in [...]

• Growth remains at record level. • Component movement is mixed. • Expectations for six months ahead ease. The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City reported that its manufacturing sector business activity index rose to a record 31 in [...]

• Initial claims in PUA program edge up, but are still low. • Continuing claims decrease, and rate eases back to pandemic low. • Continuing claims for PUA and PEUC benefits both increase. Initial claims for unemployment insurance [...]

• Existing home sales decline to lowest level since last August. • Inventory of unsold homes falls sharply from last year. • Prices rise to record high. The market for previously owned homes weakened last month after sales declined in [...]

• Rebound in leading index largest rise since last August. • All 10 components made a positive contribution in March. • Coincident indicators also rebounded in March. The Conference Board's Composite Index of Leading Economic [...]

• Activity recovers following severe winter storms in February. • Production, personal spending & housing strengthen following earlier month's declines. The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago's National Activity Index increased to 1.71 [...]

• Refinancing & purchase applications jump. • Mortgage interest rates ease again. The Mortgage Bankers Association Mortgage Loan Applications Index increased 8.6% (-5.7% y/y) in the week ended April 16, following six consecutive [...]