Economy in Brief: 2010

The Chicago Fed reported that its National Activity Index (CFNAI) fell last month to -0.46 and reversed most of its October increase. The index remained down sharply since its March peak, suggesting that the economy's recovery has [...]

The Conference Board reported that its Index of Leading Economic Indicators rose 1.1% during November and nearly tripled its October increase, initially reported at 0.5%. The latest level of the index was a record high. These gains [...]

Figures released yesterday indicated that the U.S. current account deficit widened in Q3 to $127.2B from a revised $123.2B in Q2. The figure was slightly deeper than Consensus expectations for $126.0B. The Q2 ratio to GDP was 3.5%, [...]

The Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank indicated that its December index of regional factory sector activity improved further to 24.3, its highest level since April 2005. The latest easily outpaced Consensus expectations for a m/m [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance declined last week to 420,000 from 423,000 during the prior period (revised from 421,000). The trend level continued downward as the four-week moving average fell to 422,750, the lowest since [...]

The services and MFG PMIs went their separate and opposite ways in the Zone in December. The MFG PMI rose by 1.26 points as the services PMI fell by 1.49 points. The MFG rise puts it in the top 12% of gains since the series' [...]

Activity in the housing sector has stabilized at a low level. That's the continuing message from the Commerce Department's housing starts data. Starts rose 3.9% last month to 555,000 (AR) units from 534,000 during October, initially [...]

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported that its December Empire State Factory Index of General Business Conditions recovered to 10.57 after its November decline to -11.14. The figure surpassed Consensus expectations for 5.0, [...]