Economy in Brief

In the week ended October 14, the U.S. pump price for gasoline eased to $2.63 per gallon (-8.7% y/y) from $2.65 the previous week. Haver Analytics adjusts these price figures for seasonal variation. The seasonally adjusted price held [...]

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that its Mortgage Loan Index edged up 0.5% w/w (81.8% y/y) in the week ending October 11, following a 5.2% rise in the previous week. Applications to refinance a loan increased 3.6% w/w [...]

Growth is precarious; don't be nefarious ZEW experts are only one group with a negative and cautionary outlook. In its annual report, the IMF blamed the global slowdown on (1) trade fights, (2) Brexit uncertainty, and (3) other [...]

The Empire State Manufacturing Index of General Business Conditions for October rose to 4.0 after falling to 2.0 in September. A reading of 1.0 had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. A slightly improved 30% of [...]

The Industrial Materials Price Index from the Foundation for International Business and Economic Research (FIBER) declined 1.4% during the last four weeks. The price index was down 11.1% y/y and remained at the lowest level since [...]

Germany is renowned for its aversion to inflation. It suffered hyper-inflation in the 1920s and this experience made an indelible mark on the German psyche. That experience was extreme. And it has left Germany averse to even a whiff [...]

The National Association of Realtors reported that its Fixed Rate Mortgage Housing Affordability Index increased 3.3% to 160.4 during August (12.6% y/y), the third consecutive month of increase. Despite the rise, affordability [...]

Import prices increased 0.2% (-1.6% y/y) during September following a 0.2% August decline, revised from -0.5%. A 0.1% easing had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. These figures are not seasonally adjusted and do [...]