Economy in Brief: November 2018

The Philadelphia Federal Reserve reported that its General Factory Sector Business Conditions Index dipped to 22.2 during October.......... The figures from the Philadelphia Federal Reserve dating back to 1968 can be found in Haver's [...]

Total business inventories increased 0.3% (4.4% y/y) during September following an unrevised 0.5% August rise. Total business sales increased 0.4% (6.6% y/y) after a 0.5% gain. The inventory-to-sales ratio held steady at 1.34. It [...]

The world has not come to an end. Nor is it clear that it is an auspicious new post-Brexit beginning. But with a Brexit deal now in hand, the details are trickling out as the ‘rats' desert what they perceive to be a sinking ship. [...]

The Empire State Manufacturing Index of General Business Conditions rose to 23.3 in November, the highest level in three months. This survey has been range-bound for roughly the last year. The Action Economics Forecast Survey expected [...]

Import prices increased 0.5% (3.5% y/y) during October following a 0.2% September rise, revised from 0.5%. A 0.1% uptick had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. These figures are not seasonally adjusted. Strength in [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance slipped to 214,000 (-11.6% y/y) during the week ended November 3 .......... Continuing claims for unemployment insurance declined to 1.623 million (-15.1% y/y) in the week ending October 27 [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance rose to 216,000 (-13.6% y/y) during the week ended November 10 from 214,000 in the previous week, which was unrevised. The Action Economics Forecast Survey expected 213,000 claims. The four- [...]

Total retail sales rose 0.8% (4.6% y/y) during October following two months of 0.1% decline, revised from slight increases. A 0.5% rise had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Excluding motor vehicles and parts, [...]