Economy in Brief: August 2005

Chain store sales fell for a third week, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)-UBS survey. A 0.3% decline in the week ended last Saturday, August 20, followed the prior week's 0.3% decrease. That puts the [...]

Existing home sales eased slightly in July, falling 2.6% to 7.16 million units from an upwardly revised 7.35 million in June. Single-family sales alone decreased by 2.3% to 6.24 million and condo and co-op sales by 4.2% to 920,000. [...]

The current account in the Euro zone's balance of payments turned negative in June. Except for two other small monthly deficits, the current account, on a seasonally adjusted basis, for the area has been in surplus since 2002 as can [...]

The current account in the Euro zone's balance of payments turned negative in June. Except for two other small monthly deficits, the current account, on a seasonally adjusted basis, for the area has been in surplus since 2002 as can [...]

The Russian economy has maintained a firm uptrend through the summer, according to the "Five Basic Indicators", measures of output in leading goods-related sectors. In June, the combined output gauge was up 6.4% from a year earlier, [...]

The National Activity Index (CFNAI) compiled by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago has improved since the low this past March and suggests that US economic growth has strengthened. Despite a dip in July to 0.16 from 0.40 in June, the [...]

The National Activity Index (CFNAI) compiled by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago has improved since the low this past March and suggests that US economic growth has strengthened. Despite a dip in July to 0.16 from 0.40 in June, the [...]

The current extraordinary developments in the energy sector are teaching all of us new ideas and concepts. One of these recently called to our attention by a client is the refinery crack spread. Besides the surging price of crude oil, [...]