Economy in Brief: August 2004

Of the euro zone countries that have reported second quarter Gross Domestic Product results, the Netherlands is the only one to date, to show a decline. In percentage terms the decline was -0.20% and, in euros, 191 million. Looking at [...]

The Composite Housing Market Index reported by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) rebounded in this month's survey to 71, 4 points higher than in July. The index was even with last August's level. The index of single [...]

In June, net foreign purchases of securities traded in US markets totaled $71.8 billion, more than May's $65.9 billion. The latter figure, though, was revised upward from an original $56.4 billion. So there has been considerably more [...]

The Empire State Index of General Business Conditions in New York's manufacturing industries dropped 23 points in August to 12.6, its lowest reading in 15 months. The July figure was revised down slightly from 36.54 to 35.75. All of [...]

The Empire State Index of General Business Conditions in New York's manufacturing industries dropped 23 points in August to 12.6, its lowest reading in 15 months. The July figure was revised down slightly from 36.54 to 35.75. All of [...]

Retail sales in China strengthened in July, gaining 18.2% over their year-earlier amount. Sales totaled 429 billion yuan or $50.9 billion. It was the strongest performance since before the 1997 Asian currency crisis. This sales [...]

As partially described here yesterday, Europe continued a steady growth pace in Q2, according to the "flash estimate" compiled by Eurostat, the Euro-Zone statistical agency. The original group, the EU-12saw 0.5% GDP growth in the [...]

The University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index for mid-August fell unexpectedly to 94.0 from 96.7 in July. Consensus expectations had been for a rise to 98.0. During the last ten years there has been a 75% correlation between [...]