Economy in Brief

Wholesale inventories increased 0.4% (5.2% y/y) during September following a 0.9% August rise, revised from 1.0%. The September gain compared to a 0.3% rise expected in the Informa Global Markets Survey and a 0.4% increase reported in [...]

The headline Final Demand Producer Price Index using new methodology increased 0.6% during October (2.9% y/y) following a 0.2% September gain. It was the largest increase since September 2012. A 0.3% rise had been expected in the [...]

The Federal Open Market Committee voted unanimously at today's meeting to maintain the federal funds rate target in a range between 2.00% and 2.25%. The action was expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. The Fed indicated [...]

Germany's exports have lost momentum as one year ago their pace was 9.6% while now their 12-month gain is only 1.8%. Exports are decelerating over six months to a pace that is flat and they are falling at a 5.4% annualized rate over [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance slipped to 214,000 (-11.6% y/y) during the week ended November 3 from 215,000 in the previous week, revised from 214,000. It was the lowest level in 45 years. The Action Economics Forecast [...]

Consumer credit outstanding increased $10.93 billion (4.8% y/y) during September following a $22.88 billion August increase, revised from $20.07 billion. A $16.5 billion gain had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. [...]

Germany's industrial production rose by 0.2% in September as manufacturing output was flat. Overall IP gained 0.8% over 12 months while manufacturing gained only 0.2%. Still, IP is growing and the PMI signal from the Markit gauge is [...]

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that its total Mortgage Applications Index declined 4.0% (-16.4% y/y) last week to the lowest level since December 2014. The decline followed a 2.5% shortfall in the prior week. Purchase loan [...]