Economy in Brief: 2017

German trade trends show that the massive German trade surplus is being worked down as imports rise faster than exports. That rise seems to have a lot to do with oil and energy imports where prices have been rising rapidly, but then [...]

The Federal Reserve's Financial Accounts data show continued slowing of debt issuance in U.S. financial markets in Q1 2017. The total came to $1,197 billion at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, down from $1,742 billion in Q4. The Q1 [...]

Germany's industrial production gained 0.8% in April after dropping by a thin 0.1% in March. Production is now accelerating sequentially as the 2.8% 12-month pace rises to 5.1% over six months and to 10.6% over three months. All [...]

Initial claims for jobless insurance during the week ended June 3 fell to 245,000 (-8.7% y/y) following a rise to 255,000 during the prior week, revised from 248,000. Expectations called for 240,000 claims in the Action Economics [...]

Consumer credit outstanding grew $8.20 billion (5.8% y/y) during April following a $19.54 billion March gain, revised from $16.42 billion. February's rise also was raised to $16.49 billion from $13.75 billion. A $15.8 billion April [...]

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that its total Mortgage Applications Volume Index increased 7.1% (-17.3% y/y) in the week ended June 2, after a 3.4% decline during the prior week. Purchase applications jumped 10.0% (4.8% [...]

German real orders fell by a sharp 2.1% in April, but after rising by 1.1% in March and by 3.5% in February. The monthly declines have rolled off German momentum like water off a duck's back. German total orders are still accelerating [...]

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the total job openings rate increased to 4.0% during April and returned to its record high. Despite the increase, the hiring rate fell to 3.5%, its lowest level in 12 months. These figures [...]