Economy in Brief

The ISM composite index of activity in the factory sector decreased to 59.8 in September from 61.3 in August. A reading of 60.1 was expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. During the last ten years, there has been a 74% [...]

Construction spending shows weakness up and down the line for the private sector in August. Residential spending is lower by 0.7% and nonresidential spending is lower by 0.2%. Nonresidential spending sees declines in commercial, [...]

The quarterly Tankan Survey is Japan's most important economic assessment. The reading for large manufacturing firms is the bellwether for the report. The large firm index is off for the third quarter running and some are making a lot [...]

Personal consumption expenditures rose 0.4% (5.2% y/y) in July............ The 0.3% increase in personal income......... The personal income & consumption figures are available in Haver's USECON database with detail in the USNA [...]

The Chicago Purchasing Managers Business Barometer fell to 63.6 during August........... The MNI Chicago Report is produced by MNI/Deutsche Borse Group in partnership with ISM-Chicago. The survey covers a sample of over 200 purchasing [...]

I suppose if you are German you look at this chart and see inflation ‘spiraling out of control’ as it tops the pace of 2% in a number of countries, a pace that inflation is supposed to stay below. However, a less dogmatic view on this [...]

Personal consumption expenditures rose 0.3% (5.3% y/y) in August following an upwardly revised 0.5% m/m gain in July. Personal income also rose 0.3% m/m (4.7% y/y) in August, the same monthly increase as in July. The Action Economics [...]

The Chicago Purchasing Managers Business Barometer fell for the second consecutive month to 60.4 in September from 63.6 in August. The Action Economics Forecast Survey expected a decline to 62.0. The Chicago Purchasing Managers [...]