Economy in Brief

The labor market firmed during November. Nonfarm payroll employment increased 266,000 (1.5% y/y) after rising 156,000 in October, revised from 128,000. September employment rose 193,000, revised from 180,000. A 184,000 November [...]

Wholesale inventories edged up 0.1% m/m (+3.8% y/y) in October after a downwardly revised 0.7% m/m drop in September (originally -0.4%). The Informa Global Markets Survey had looked for a 0.2% m/m increase. Wholesale sales [...]

The labor market firmed during November. Nonfarm payroll employment increased 266,000 (1.5% y/y) after rising 156,000 in October, revised from 128,000. September employment rose 193,000, revised from 180,000. A 184,000 November [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell 10,000 to 203,000 (-11.4% y/y) during the week ending November 30. The previous week was unrevised at 213,000. This was the smallest amount since 193,000 in the April 13 week. The Action [...]

Factory orders improved 0.3% (-1.2% y/y) during October following a 0.8% September decline, revised from 0.6%. The increase matched expectations in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Orders for durable goods rose 0.5% (-0.9% y/y), [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell 10,000 to 203,000 (-11.4% y/y) during the week ending November 30. The previous week was unrevised at 213,000. This was the smallest amount since 193,000 in the April 13 week. The Action [...]

The U.S. trade deficit in goods and services declined to $47.20 billion during October from $51.10 billion in September, revised from $52.45 billion. It was the smallest deficit since May 2018. A $48.7 billion deficit had been [...]

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that its Mortgage Loan Index slumped 9.2% w/w (+50.5% y/y) in the week ending November 29 after edging up 1.5% w/w in the previous week. Applications to refinance a loan led the overall [...]