Economy in Brief

• The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago indicated that the economy entered a downturn in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. The National Activity Index (CFNAI) declined to -4.19 during March from 0.06 in February, revised from 0.16. The [...]

• Record decline of 6.7% in leaders reflects widespread effects from coronavirus. • Coincident indicators signal nascent recession. • Lagging indicators confirm large downshift in economy. The Conference Board reported that its [...]

Japan's industrial production fell by 0.3% in February after two straight months of gains with January having been especially strong. Mixed trends Japan's industrial production trend has two distinct aspects. From 12-months to six- [...]

The only sure things in life are death, taxes and the fact that the coronavirus will haunt you if not stalk you down. The February IP accounting from the EMU is the last report from the EMU on IP before the abject weakness from the [...]

• Initial jobless claims decline to 5.245 million in the week ending April 11. • Over the last four weeks 22.4 million people have filed new claims. • Thirty-nine states had decreases, but all remain at historic amounts Initial [...]

• Business activity weakens broadly. • Improved expectations reading likely helped by stimulus plan. The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia reported that its General Factory Sector Business Conditions Index declined sharply to -56.6 [...]

• Initial jobless claims decline to 5.245 million in the week ending April 11. • Over the last four weeks 22.4 million people have filed new claims. • Thirty-nine states had decreases, but all remain at historic amounts Initial [...]

• The housing sector is hard hit by the spread of the coronavirus. • Falling permits suggest more weakness to come. New residential home building weakened dramatically last month and likely will fall further. Housing starts declined [...]