Economy in Brief

The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index eased slightly in December, by 0.2% to 126.5 (1985=100), but November was revised upward to 126.8 from its originally reported 125.5. A December index level of 128.3 had been expected [...]

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Price Index edged up 0.2% m/m (5.0% y/y) in October following an upwardly revised 0.7% m/m gain in September (initially 0.6%). The 5.0% y/y increase in October marked a sharp slowdown from the [...]

In the week ended December 30, retail gasoline prices rose to $2.57 per gallon (+13.5% y/y) from $2.53 per gallon the previous week. This was the first weekly increase in seven weeks. Retail gasoline prices usually fall at this time [...]

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas reported in its Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey that the General Business Activity Index of -1.3 during November......... Each index is calculated by subtracting the percentage reporting a [...]

The Chicago Purchasing Managers’ Business Barometer rose more than expected to 48.9 in December from 46.3 in November and 43.2 in October. The October reading had been the lowest level in four years. This index is a diffusion index [...]

U.S. pending home sales rose 1.2% (+7.4% y/y) in November, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) after falling 1.3% in October. October was revised from a 1.7% drop. The November index level of sales was 108.5 [...]

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas reported in its Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey that the General Business Activity Index fell in December to -3.2 from -1.3 in November. For this index, zero is the critical value that separates [...]

The Chicago Purchasing Managers' Business Barometer rose more than expected to 48.9 in December from 46.3 in November and 43.2 in October. The October reading had been the lowest level in four years. This index is a diffusion index [...]