Economy in Brief: June 2019

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that its total Mortgage Applications Index surged 26.8% (45.0% y/y) during the week ending June 7 after the prior week's 1.5% rise. The rise reflected a 46.5% jump in applications to refinance [...]

Japan's orders surged in April. Both overall and core orders rose briskly in April with each gaining more than 4% month-to-month. The paths taken by total and core orders are quite different, however, Total orders decline over [...]

Inflation continues to stay under wraps. The Consumer Price Index nudged 0.1% higher (1.8% y/y) during May following a 0.3% April rise. It was the smallest increase since January. The gain matched expectations in the Action Economics [...]

Japan’s economy watchers index weakened in May after the current index showed some rebound in April. At a level of 44.1 the economy watchers current index was last weaker in June of 2016. The index has decelerated over 3-months [...]

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) reported that its Small Business Optimism Index increased to 105.0 during May, up for the fourth straight month. It was the highest reading since October. The index gained 1.4% [...]

U.S. retail gasoline prices continued to fall in the week ended June 10, declining seven cents to $2.73 per gallon (-6.1% y/y) for their fifth consecutive weekly decline. Haver Analytics calculates factors that adjust for the seasonal [...]

OECD LEIS Show Further Weakening. The Peril of Trade War Meets the Peril of No Trade War OECD LEIS weakened again this month and they continue to point to a broad slowdown. The OECD leading indicators decline on all broad categories [...]

The Producer Price Index for final demand rose 0.1% during May (1.8% y/y) following a 0.2% April increase. A 0.2% rise had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Producer prices excluding food & energy increased an [...]