Economy in Brief: August 2010

Earlier improvement in service-sector hiring ran out of gas during the last few months. If it weren't so widespread, the slowdown wouldn't be too noteworthy. But the fact that it's reached into sectors which normally are resistant to [...]

By returning to a level of zero, the July National Activity Index (CFNAI), reported by the Chicago Fed, recovered most of its June decline. However, lest the rise to 0.00 spark too much excitement about economic growth, the three- [...]

Disappointingly, the Philadelphia Fed's monthly business outlook survey turned negative for this month. The general activity index was -7.7% compared with July's +5.1%. It was the first negative reading since July 2009. The weakness [...]

Unemployment insurance claims jumped unexpectedly in the week ending August 14, reaching 500,000 from an upwardly revised 488,000 the week before (originally 484,000). It was the first appearance of 500,000 initial claims since [...]

Spring time for Germany...This is a unique time for the German economy. It is growing fast, having put in the best quarterly growth since unification; the best quarter in two decades and a strong one compared to any decade. Inflation [...]

Bank lending policies have begun to shift toward easier standards, according to the quarterly Federal Reserve Senior Loan Officer Survey. Data covering the latter half of July were reported Monday, August 16; participants, 57 domestic [...]

Earnings trends: UK average earnings (including bonuses) rose economy-wide in June. But the private sector saw earnings drop by 1.1%. Over three-months earnings are falling on both measures, over six months a small rise is in place; [...]

Housing has taken a real thumping in this cycle, a process that began well before the recession. So it is not surprising that with the recession over, housing is not simply springing back to life. It is instructive to look at the [...]