Economy in Brief

Retail sales volumes in the EMU are slightly elevated but remain on a moderate growth path after going flat month-to-month in March. Sales volume is up by 1.8% over 12 months, accelerating over six months and accelerating also over [...]

The Composite Index of Nonmanufacturing Sector Activity from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) slipped to 55.5 in April from 56.1 in March. This was the fourth monthly decline in the past five months but leaves the index still [...]

Since the EMU formation, Germany has been the low inflation country. Germany as the largest economy in the EMU gets the greatest weight in setting EMU macroeconomic data, including the HICP, for just that reason. In the past ‘most’ [...]

The labor market remained robust during April. Nonfarm payrolls increased 263,000 (1.8% y/y) following a 189,000 March gain, revised from 196,000. February's rise was revised higher to 56,000. The April increase exceeded expectations [...]

The labor market remained robust during April. Nonfarm payrolls increased 263,000 (1.8% y/y) following a 189,000 March gain, revised from 196,000. February's rise was revised higher to 56,000. The April increase exceeded expectations [...]

The Composite Index of Nonmanufacturing Sector Activity from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) slipped to 55.5 in April from 56.1 in March. This was the fourth monthly decline in the past five months but leaves the index still [...]

The labor market remained robust during April. Nonfarm payrolls increased 263,000 (1.8% y/y) following a 189,000 March gain, revised from 196,000. February's rise was revised higher to 56,000. The April increase exceeded expectations [...]

Asia: still weak after all these years The Asian PMIs show weakening monthly performance from four of nine reporters with one (Japan) improving albeit showing manufacturing contraction (PMI raw score below 50). Japan is the lone [...]