Economy in Brief

The National Association of Realtors reported that its Composite Index of Home Affordability declined 2.5% during March (+0.1% y/y). Affordability stood 29.0% below the peak level during January 2013. Together, principal & interest [...]

The Consumer Price Index increased 0.3% (2.0% y/y) during April following a 0.4% March gain. A 0.4% rise had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. The CPI excluding food & energy improved 0.1% (2.1% y/y) for the third [...]

The U.S. trade deficit in goods and services widened slightly in March to $50.0 billion from $49.3 billion in February. This was spot on expectations of a $50.0 billion deficit from the Action Economics Survey. Exports rose 1.0% m/m [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance declined 2,000 to 228,000 (+8.1% year-on-year) during the week ended May 4 from an unrevised reading of 230,000 in the previous week. The Action Economics Forecast Survey expected claims to [...]

The chart mixes quarterly frequency data (dots) with monthly data (line) Japan's consumer confidence ticked down to 40.4 in April from 40.5 in March. In doing so, the index reached a point weaker than what it has seen over three [...]

Wholesale inventories slipped 0.1% (+6.7% y/y) during March following a 0.4% gain in February. The Informa Global Markets Survey expected no change. Durable goods inventories increased 0.3% (10.0% y/y) after a 0.2% gain. Machinery [...]

The Producer Price Index for final demand increased 0.2% during April (2.2% y/y) following a 0.6% March surge. The gain matched expectations in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Producer prices excluding food & energy edged 0.1% [...]

The U.S. trade deficit in goods and services widened slightly in March to $50.0 billion from $49.3 billion in February. This was spot on expectations of a $50.0 billion deficit from the Action Economics Survey. Exports rose 1.0% m/m [...]