Economy in Brief: 2012

The University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment dropped sharply in early December to 74.5 (Q1 1966 = 100) from 82.7 in November. This move negated market forecasts for a steady reading of 82.8, and returned the index about to [...]

Nonfarm payrolls grew 146,000 during November following gains of 138,000 and 132,000 during the prior two months, revised down from 171,000 and 148,000, respectively. A 110,000 increase was expected. As measured in the household [...]

The University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment dropped sharply in early December to 74.5 (Q1 1966 = 100) from 82.7 in November. This move negated market forecasts for a steady reading of 82.8, and returned the index about to [...]

The Federal Reserve quarterly Flow-of-Funds data show some easing in credit market borrowing in Q3, at $887 billion, seasonally adjusted annual rate, down from $1,166 billion in Q2, $1,415 billion in Q1 and an average of $929 billion [...]

The Federal Reserve quarterly Flow-of-Funds data show some easing in credit market borrowing in Q3, at $887 billion, seasonally adjusted annual rate, down from $1,166 billion in Q2, $1,415 billion in Q1 and an average of $929 billion [...]

German orders recorded a sharp snap back in October, rising by 3.9% after falling by 2.4% in September, The jump still leaves overall orders lower by 2% year-on-year but the profile is now sharply different with foreign-sourced orders [...]

The outplacement firm of Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported that 57,081 job cuts were announced during November, up 19.6% from October and by more than one-third y/y. Job cut announcements rose in the aerospace/defense, apparel, [...]

Initial jobless insurance claims fell again last week after filings were raised sharply in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Claims fell during the week ended December 1 to 370,000 from 395,000 in the prior period, initially reported as [...]