Economy in Brief: March 2009

U.S. producer prices for finished goods increased a modest 0.1% last month. The slim gain offset last month's upside surprise of 0.8%, which was unrevised. Moreover, it contrasted with Consensus expectations for a 0.4% gain. Much of [...]

Still under extreme pressure, the March Housing Market Index (HMI) from the National Association of Home Builders remained stable month-to-month at 9. During four of the last five months the index level of 9 was barley above the [...]

Inflation in the Area rose in February but at 1.2% the Yr/yr pace of inflation remained well in check. Core inflation at 1.7% is confirming that tepid reading. Three-month inflation and service sector inflation ticked up over three- [...]

Employment, typically a lagging indicator, declined for the second quarter in the Euro Area. The decline was 453,000 after a decline of 215, 000 in the third quarter. In the United States, comparable figures were declines of 1,261,000 [...]

This month's Empire State Index of manufacturing sector activity, reported by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, fell to a new low for the series which dates back to 2001. Continued stress was indicated by the reading of -38.23, [...]

Declining demand coupled with cutbacks to inventory levels continue to severely depress U.S. factory sector activity. During February, industrial production fell 1.5% after the little-revised 1.9% drop during January. Last month's [...]

Declining demand coupled with cutbacks to inventory levels continue to severely depress U.S. factory sector activity. During February, industrial production fell 1.5% after the little-revised 1.9% drop during January. Last month's [...]

The E-Area consumer remains under pressure and the retail sales picture reflects that. Even so, retailing is hardly the weakest sector in the Area. The output sector – factories- are much weaker. Exports are much weaker. Retail sales [...]