Economy in Brief: 2016

Japan's Tankan survey in which we focus on the responses of large firms shows a sharp reduction in the manufacturing firm assessment which has dropped back to +6 in Q1 2016 from +12 in Q4 2015. This is the weakest reading in 11 [...]

The ISM Composite Index of manufacturing activity rose more than expected to 51.8 in March from 49.5 in February. The Action Economics Forecast Survey had looked for an increase to 50.7. The data from the Institute for Supply [...]

The job market remained firm during March. Nonfarm payrolls increased 215,000 (2.0% y/y) following a 245,000 February increase, earlier reported a 242,000. A 200,000 increase had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. [...]

The job market remained firm during March. Nonfarm payrolls increased 215,000 (2.0% y/y) following a 245,000 February increase, earlier reported a 242,000. A 200,000 increase had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. [...]

Europe, where consumer is king...yes I said Europe It is no secret that Europe has been driven by its services sector nor is it a secret that retailing has been the strongest of the sectors in the EU Commission indicator framework. [...]

Chicago purchasing managers reported that their March Business Barometer Index jumped to 53.6, after declining to 47.6 in February. The latest reading beat expectations for a smaller rise to 49.4 in the Action Economics Forecast [...]

The outplacement firm of Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported that job cut announcements during March fell to 48,207 (+31.7% y/y) following the prior month's unrevised decline to 61,599. The latest was the lowest level in three [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance increased to 276,000 during the week ended March 26 from an unrevised 265,000 in the prior week. It was the highest level in eight weeks. Expectations were for 266,000 claims in the Action [...]