Economy in Brief: 2012

Factory sector activity continued on the mend last month. The April ISM Composite Index of industrial sector activity rose to 54.8 from an unrevised 53.4 in March. The gain compared to Consensus expectations for a slip to 53.0. The [...]

For drivers of motor vehicles, fuel prices are finally providing some relief. The pump price of regular gasoline fell four cents last week to $3.83 per gallon, down for the fourth straight week. Haver Analytics' seasonally-adjusted [...]

The tide is rising and gaining momentum against austerity. The Dutch government was brought down last week over the issue and the Socialist candidate, Francois Hollande, who promises to fight the fiscal pact signed by members of the [...]

Consumers adopted a more conservative approach to their income last month. Personal income increased 0.4% (3.2% y/y) during March after a 0.3% February increase, last month reported as 0.2%. Last month's increase reflected a 0.3% rise [...]

German confidence is edging down, now for the second month in a row. Economic confidence is still on the rise but Income and buying confidence are on the retreat. Overall confidence is higher than the May value only 25% of the time. [...]

The University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment for all of April improved to 76.4 versus 75.7 at mid-month and 76.2 in March. The figure compared to expectations for 75.7. The reading of current economic conditions rose from [...]

The employment cost index for private industry workers rose 0.4% in Q1 for total compensation versus a revised 0.5% Q4 rise, initially reported as 0.4%. The latest increase fell short of expectations for a 0.5% rise as compiled by [...]

Economic growth slipped back onto the slow track last quarter with a disappointing 2.2% advance. The rise followed an unrevised 3.0% Q4 gain and was below Consensus estimates of a 2.5% rise. The highest expected gain was 3.0%. Despite [...]