Economy in Brief: June 2005

The National Association of Realtors reported that sales in May of existing homes declined a modest 0.7% to 7,130M versus the unrevised record during the prior month. Consensus expectations had been for roughly the same decline to [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell a sharp 20,000 to 314,000 last week, the lowest level in two months. Consensus expectations had been for 330,000 claims and the prior week's figure was revised up slightly. The latest [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell a sharp 20,000 to 314,000 last week, the lowest level in two months. Consensus expectations had been for 330,000 claims and the prior week's figure was revised up slightly. The latest [...]

After a strong rebound in 2004, the growth in the Taiwanese economy shows signs of moderation. Year-to-year growth in GDP was 2.5% in Q1, the slowest in seven quarters. Today, the Directorate-General of Budgeting, Accounting and [...]

The price of oil touched $59.37 on Monday then a barrel of West Texas Intermediate crude dropped back yesterday to $56.91. So far in 2005 the price of crude has averaged $52.75, up 26% versus last year's average. In the US, the [...]

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that last week, total mortgage applications retraced more than half of the prior week's surge and fell 11.3% w/w. Nevertheless, applications so far in June remain 11.0% ahead of the May [...]

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that last week, total mortgage applications retraced more than half of the prior week's surge and fell 11.3% w/w. Nevertheless, applications so far in June remain 11.0% ahead of the May [...]

The analysts and institutional investors who participate in the ZEW Survey continue to be pessimistic about current conditions in the German economy. The balance between optimists and pessimists has average about -70 for the past year [...]