Economy in Brief

China has logged an exceptional snapback in its manufacturing and nonmanufacturing PMIs in March. In February, China shocked the world by posting a manufacturing PMI that fell to 35.7 from 50.0 and a nonmanufacturing PMI that fell to [...]

The Conference Board's Index of Consumer Confidence declined 9.5% (-3.4% y/y) during March to a level of 120.0 following a 1.7% February gain, revised from 0.2%. A decline to an index level of 114.8 had been expected in the Action [...]

• Chicago PMI fell to 47.8 in March, the ninth consecutive month below 50 growth mark. • ISM-Adjusted measure calculated by Haver Analytics fell even more to 46.9. • Survey extended only to March 16; so it doesn't capture most of the [...]

Retail gasoline prices declined to $2.00 per gallon (-25.5% y/y) in the week ended March 30 from $2.12 per gallon in the previous week. Prices remained below their May 2019 peak of $2.90 per gallon. Haver Analytics adjusts the [...]

The Conference Board's Index of Consumer Confidence declined 9.5% (-3.4% y/y) during March to a level of 120.0 following a 1.7% February gain, revised from 0.2%. A decline to an index level of 114.8 had been expected in the Action [...]

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas reported in its Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey that the General Business Activity Index weakened to -70.0 this month from 1.2 in February. The decline mirrored the readings from other regional [...]

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that pending home sales increased 2.4% in February (9.4% y/y) to the highest level since February 2017. Lower mortgage rates helped fuel the increase with the 15-year fixed-rate [...]

With shutdowns, lockdowns, and Schengen-defying border closures at work in different places on different timelines, the one constant in the EMU is the weakness that has spread across the euro area. Activity had peaked near the end of [...]