Economy in Brief: 2006

The April Leading Index of the major 7 OECD economies rose 0.2% following a downwardly revised 0.1% increase during March. The leaders have risen 3.4% since the low last April and despite the recent slow gains, the six month growth [...]

We talked about UK trade just a month ago, but it seems worth revisiting right away. The trade deficit (on goods and services) in April held at March's level, £4.0 billion (a slight revision from the initial £3.8 billion). Both [...]

Growth in total credit market debt outstanding rose 10.2% (AR) last quarter. That was a modest slowdown from the 12.1% advance during 4Q but it was enough to lift the y/y rate of growth to 9.7%, its fastest since 1999. A jump in [...]

Total import prices advanced another 1.6% last month after a 2.1% jump during April. Again, the rise easily surpassed Consensus expectations which had been for a 0.7% increase. Import prices less petroleum jumped 0.6%, the strongest [...]

During April the U.S. foreign trade deficit deepened to $63.4B from a little revised $61.9B in March. The deficit fell short of Consensus expectations for $65.1B. The latest deficit was the deepest since the near-record in January of [...]

During April the U.S. foreign trade deficit deepened to $63.4B from a little revised $61.9B in March. The deficit fell short of Consensus expectations for $65.1B. The latest deficit was the deepest since the near-record in January of [...]

It was expected that the ECB would raise its refinancing rate at today's scheduled meeting, and indeed the Governing Council lifted it to 2.75% from 2.50%. However, what was not at all expected were similar kinds of moves by central [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell 35,000 w/w to the lowest level since early April. The decline last week to 302,000 followed a slightly revised 9,000 increase the prior period and may have been biased down by the [...]