Economy in Brief: 2014

Sweden continues to make progress on the employment front. In March employment improved by 0.7% after being flat in February and down slightly in January. Over three months, the employment growth rate is 2.9%, up from 2.4% over the [...]

The coming of better weather after a rough winter prompts drivers to take to the road. That helped push the price for a gallon of regular gasoline to $3.68 last week, up 4.2% y/y. Prices, nevertheless, remained below the $3.78 per [...]

The Chicago Federal Reserve reported that its National Activity Index (CFNAI) rose to 0.20 last month following its February recovery to 0.53, revised from 0.14. The latest reading remained down, nevertheless, versus November's high [...]

Industrial orders weakened in Italy in February. They fell by 3.1% but only after rising by 4.7% in January. Still, January represents a partial rebound from a 4.8% drop in December. Obviously, there has been a good deal of volatility [...]

The index of Leading Economic Indicators, published by the Conference Board, increased 0.8% (6.1% y/y) in March following an unrevised 0.5% February gain. A 0.7% rise was expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. The breadth [...]

The Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank reported that its General Business Conditions Index for April improved to 16.6. That added to its March improvement into positive territory after a weather-depressed negative reading in February. [...]

Auto registrations in Europe have risen again on a year-over-year basis, posting an increase of 1.6% over 12 months. This, however, is down from a 6.8% year-over-year gain in February and is the smallest gain since October 2013. [...]

The labor market's recovery remained in evidence last week as initial unemployment insurance claims totaled 304,000, up slightly from 302,000 during the week ended April 5, revised from 300,000. Expectations had been for 315,000 [...]