Economy in Brief: September 2018

Import prices declined 0.6% (+3.7% y/y) during August following a 0.1% easing in July, revised from unchanged. A 0.2% decline had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. These figures are not seasonally adjusted. [...]

Industrial production increased a solid 0.4% m/m (4.8% y/y) in August and the modest 0.1% m/m rise initially reported for July was revised up to a 0.4% m/m gain. The consensus from the Action Economics Survey had looked for a 0.3% m/m [...]

As the chart amply demonstrates the EMU trade surplus has been under pressure for some time. Since late 2016 imports have been outpacing exports on a consistent basis although the differences in the export and import growth rates have [...]

Total retail sales improved 0.1% (6.6% y/y) during August following a 0.7% July gain, revised from 0.5%. A 0.4% increase had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Excluding motor vehicles and parts, retail sales [...]

Initial unemployment insurance applications decreased to 204,000 (-23.6% y/y) during the week ended September 8 from 205,000 in the prior week, revised from 203,000. It remained the lowest level since December 1969. The Action [...]

The German HICP is flat in August; its domestic CPI is up by 0.1% and the CPI excluding energy is flat. German inflation measured from 12-months to 6-months to 3-months shows a loss of momentum with year over year inflation at 1.9% to [...]

Moderation in consumer price inflation was broad-based during August. Consumer prices rose 0.2% (2.7% y/y) following a 0.2% July gain. A 0.3% increase had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. The CPI excluding food & [...]

Industrial production trends show output slowing across all three sectors in the chart of 12-month rates of growth. Sequential growth rates from 12-months and less (table) do not show a steady deceleration but do show a legacy of [...]