Economy in Brief: February 2006

Overall industrial output fell last month by 0.7% following an upwardly revised 0.9% rise during December. The decline, however, wholly reflected the warm temperatures which reduced utility output by 10.2% (-4.7% y/y). Consensus [...]

According to flash estimates published today, growth in real gross domestic product of the twenty-five countries of the European Union slowed to 0.4% in the fourth quarter of 2005, down from a 0.6% increase in the third quarter. [...]

The January index of small business optimism from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) reversed the small December rise and fell 0.3%. The latest index level was 6.1% lower than the peak during November 2004. The [...]

Total business inventories posted another solid increase during December. The 0.7% increase followed an upwardly revised 0.6% November gain and was firmer than the 0.4% Consensus expectation. The latest increases, however, have lagged [...]

Chain store sales dipped 0.4% last week following a 2.0% surge during the opening week of February, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)-UBS survey. So far in February sales are 0.7% ahead of the January [...]

January US retail sales surged 2.3% as temperatures posted record highs. The increase by far exceeded Consensus expectations for a 0.8% gain and the December increase was revised down to 0.4% due to a lowered estimate of auto sales. [...]

January US retail sales surged 2.3% as temperatures posted record highs. The increase by far exceeded Consensus expectations for a 0.8% gain and the December increase was revised down to 0.4% due to a lowered estimate of auto sales. [...]

Japan's corporations raised the average selling price of domestic goods 0.3% in January over January 2005. This was the first year-to-year increase since early 1998. The ability to raise prices, however small, was a welcome sign that [...]