Economy in Brief

Japans' retail sales rebounded but only part way after a horrific decline in the wake of its consumption tax hike. On October 1, the government raised the consumption tax from 8% to 10%. While retail sales had risen by 7.2% in [...]

Japan's housing starts fell for the second month in a row in November. With a shirking population, housing is not the vibrant industry it once was. The housing market was impacted in the global recession, but it did recover from [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 13,000 in the week ended December 21 to 222,000 (-0.4% y/y) from the prior week's 235,000, which was revised upward by 1,000. The December 21 actual also equaled the Action Economics [...]

In the week ended December 23, retail gasoline prices edged down to $2.53 per gallon (+9.1% y/y), the sixth consecutive weekly decrease, from $2.54 per gallon in the previous week. Typically, gasoline prices weaken at this time of [...]

In the week ended December 23, retail gasoline prices edged down to $2.53 per gallon (+9.1% y/y), the sixth consecutive weekly decrease, from $2.54 per gallon in the previous week. Typically, gasoline prices weaken at this time of [...]

Sales of new single-family homes increased 1.3% m/m (+16.9% y/y) in November to 719,000 units SAAR. However, the November gain comes from levels that were revised sharply lower in both September and October. September sales were [...]

German export prices remain weak over current months as well as over 12 months. German import prices show some lift in November and over three months, but they are lower on balance over 12 months. Export and import prices excluding [...]

Sales of new single-family homes increased 1.3% m/m (+16.9% y/y) in November to 719,000 units SAAR. However, the November gain comes from levels that were revised sharply lower in both September and October. September sales were [...]