Economy in Brief: 2019

The Composite Housing Market Index from the National Association of Home Builders-Wells Fargo rose to 66 during May, the highest level since October. Despite the improvement, the index remained below the expansion high of 74 reached [...]

The Empire State Manufacturing Index of General Business Conditions strengthened to 17.8 during May, the highest level in six months. The latest level, however, remained below the high of 27.1 in October 2017. The Action Economics [...]

Total business inventories were unchanged (+5.0% y/y) in March after rising 0.3% m/m in February and jumping 0.9% m/m in January. In contrast, total business sales surged 1.6% m/m (3.7% y/y) in March versus a 0.2% m/m increase in [...]

Industrial production fell a greater-than-expected 0.5% (+0.9% year-on-year) during April following an upwardly-revised 0.2% gain in March (was -0.1%). The Action Economics Survey forecast an unchanged reading for April. Manufacturing [...]

Total retail sales slipped 0.2% (+3.1% y/y) during April following a 1.7% March increase, revised from 1.6%. A 0.3% rise had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Excluding motor vehicles and parts, retail sales [...]

The Labor Department reported that import prices increased 0.6% during March and were unchanged y/y......... Export prices increased 0.7% (0.6% y/y) for a second consecutive month.......... The import and export price series can be [...]

ZEW macro-indicators of current conditions show some strengthening month-to-month. However, only the U.S. has a queue standings anything close to strong (in the 80th percentile). Japan has a firm standing in its 75th percentile with [...]

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) reported that its Small Business Optimism Index increased to 103.5 during April following little change in March. It was the highest reading since December. The index gained 1.7% [...]