Economy in Brief

The Composite Housing Market Index from the National Association of Home Builders-Wells Fargo rose to 68 in September from 67 during August. It was the highest level since October of last year, but it remained below the expansion high [...]

Industrial production rebounded 0.6% (0.4% y/y) during August following a 0.1% easing in July, revised from -0.2%. A 0.2% gain had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Factory sector output improved 0.5% (-0.5% y/y) [...]

After an attack on a Saudi Arabian oil facility on Sunday, the price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil strengthened to $62.90 per barrel yesterday from $54.85 on Friday. The outsized jump placed the price of crude oil slightly [...]

Chart shows weakening auto sales and weakening sales of all industrial products including autos Retail sales volumes in France are showing some growth but very little strength. Total sales volumes are up by 0.3% month-to-month in [...]

The Empire State Manufacturing Index of General Business Conditions for September eased to 2.0 from 4.8 in August. A reading of 3.9 had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. A steady 27% of respondents reported that [...]

Import prices improved 0.2% (-1.8% y/y) during July following a 1.1% June decline... Export prices also rose 0.2% (-0.9% y/y) in July after June's 0.6% decline.......... The import and export price series can be found in Haver's [...]

Total business inventories rose 0.4% (4.8% y/y) in July versus an unrevised zero change in June and a 0.3% May increase. Total business sales edged up 0.3% (1.3% y/y) after holding steady in June, revised from 0.1% . The inventory-to- [...]

The EMU trade and current account positions shifted to post larger surpluses in July. Exports rose and imports were dead flat on the month. The trade surplus rose to 18.96 billion euros while the current account surplus moved sharply [...]