Economy in Brief

Productivity in the nonfarm business sector grew at a greater-than-expected 2.3% seasonally adjusted annual rate during Q2'19 (1.8% year-on-year), following a slightly upwardly-revised 3.5% gain in Q1'19 (was 3.4%). The Action [...]

Initial unemployment insurance claims declined to 209,000 (-3.5% y/y) during the week ended August 3....... Continuing claims for unemployment insurance eased to 1.684 million (-3.9% y/y) in the week ending July 27...... Data on [...]

Consumer spending continues to exhibit strength. Total retail sales rose 0.7% (3.4% y/y) during July following a 0.3% June rise, revised from a 0.4%. May's increase was revised to 0.5% from 0.4%. A 0.3% July sales gain had been [...]

The Empire State Manufacturing Index of General Business Conditions rose to 4.8 in August from 4.3 in July. The Action Economics Forecast Survey expected the index to have slipped to 2.0. Twenty-seven percent of respondents reported [...]

The Empire State Manufacturing Index of General Business Conditions rose to 4.8 in August from 4.3 in July. The Action Economics Forecast Survey expected the index to have slipped to 2.0. Twenty-seven percent of respondents reported [...]

Initial unemployment insurance claims rose to 220,000 (+3.3% y/y) during the week ended August 10 from 211,000 in the prior week, revised from 209,000. The Action Economics Forecast Survey expected 212,000 initial claims. The four- [...]

It starts with weak IP in Europe Industrial output in the EMU area has lost its way, falling by 1.6% in June, at a -5.2% annualized rate over three months and -2.4% over 12 months. It does manage a small (0.4% annualized) gain over [...]

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that its total Mortgage Applications Index strengthened 21.7% (81.2% y/y) during the week ending August 9 following a 5.3% increase in the prior week. Applications to refinance a loan [...]