Economy in Brief: 2019

With concern mounting about the state of growth in the global economy, all incoming reports are being scrutinized for signs of which way growth may be turning; is it improving or deteriorating? The German IFO report gauges are plotted [...]

The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reported that its National Activity index rose to -0.05 during May following an April decline to -0.48. The three-month moving average increased to -0.17, its highest level since January. During the [...]

There is an old song with a verse about the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. The EMU manufacturing and services sectors seem to be following that script. Services are continuing to move higher boosting the composite [...]

The National Association of Realtors reported that sales of existing homes rose 2.5% (-1.1% y/y) to 5.340 million (SAAR) during May after remaining unchanged in April at 5.210 million, revised from 5.190 million. It was the highest [...]

The U.S. current account deficit narrowed to $130.4 billion during Q1'19 from $143.9 billion during Q4'18, revised from $134.4 billion. It compared to a $125.0 billion deficit expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. As a [...]

The Conference Board's Composite Index of Leading Economic Indicators held steady (2.5% y/y) during May following a 0.1% April rise, revised from 0.2%. The March increase also was lessened to 0.2% from 0.3%. A 0.1% uptick had been [...]

Initial unemployment insurance claims decreased to 216,000 in the week ended June 15 from an unrevised 222,000 the week before. Claims remained near their lowest level since December 1969. The latest reading compared to expectations [...]

The UK economic and political drama continues to play out and, as it does, retail sales are withering. Boris Johnson is a step closer to being named Prime Minister. At the BOE meeting, policy was kept on hold as the bank cuts its [...]