Economy in Brief: December 2007

Finished producer prices surged 3.2% last month after little change during October. A 1.5% rise had been expected. Core finished goods producer prices rose a firm 0.4%, the strongest gain since this past February. Energy prices [...]

Japans exports and imports each show generally declining trends. Imports are up by just 4.4% year/year while exports are advancing at a pace of 11.4%. Japan’s services deficit is shrinking. Its good surplus and current account surplus [...]

During November, another jump in petroleum prices raised overall import prices by 2.7% after a 1.4% October increase. Consensus expectations had been for a 2.4% gain. Petroleum prices, overall, gained 18.0% (68.7% y/y). Fuel oil [...]

The U.S. foreign trade deficit deepened slightly to $57.8B from $57.1B in September which was slightly deeper than the deficit initially reported. Consensus expectations had been for a deficit of 57.3B. The deficit averaged $58.7B [...]

The U.S. foreign trade deficit deepened slightly to $57.8B from $57.1B in September which was slightly deeper than the deficit initially reported. Consensus expectations had been for a deficit of 57.3B. The deficit averaged $58.7B [...]

Institutional investors and analysts surveyed by ZEW the Center for European Economic Research at Manheim are becoming increasingly concerned about the economic outlook for the Euro Area and Germany, in particular. Among other [...]

Japan’s economy watchers index is very weak. The future index is in the bottom 10 percent of its five year range. The current index and the employment reading are in about the bottom 15th percentile of their respective ranges. The [...]

Overall Japan orders are up sharply in October at 18.7% and core orders are up a strong 12.7%. But over three months overall orders are a strong +29.1% while core orders are off at a 14.5% pace. Over the past 12 months core orders are [...]