Economy in Brief: 2006

The U.S. foreign trade deficit fell to $62.0B during March, the lowest level since last August. The decline exceeded Consensus expectations for a deficit of $67.0B. Total exports recovered from the prior month's drop with a 1.9% jump [...]

The U.S. foreign trade deficit fell to $62.0B during March, the lowest level since last August. The decline exceeded Consensus expectations for a deficit of $67.0B. Total exports recovered from the prior month's drop with a 1.9% jump [...]

GDP growth picked up in the first quarter for the EuroZone and several individual countries.Eurostat reported this morning that GDP in the EuroZone grew 0.6% over Q4 following 0.3% in that period. The year/year gain was 2.0% from Q1 [...]

Initial unemployment insurance claims fell 1,000 last week to 324,000 after an upwardly revised 9,000 increase during the prior week. Consensus expectations had been for 315,000 claims. The four week moving average of initial claims [...]

The 0.7% rise in total business inventories during March handily outpaced Consensus expectations for a 0.5% increase. It followed an upwardly revised 0.1% up tick during February and was the strongest rose so far this year. Retail [...]

The 0.5% rise in US retail sales during April was a bit short of Consensus expectations for a 0.7% gain. It followed an unrevised 0.6% rise the prior month. Despite the disappointment, retail sales during the first four months of this [...]

The 0.5% rise in US retail sales during April was a bit short of Consensus expectations for a 0.7% gain. It followed an unrevised 0.6% rise the prior month. Despite the disappointment, retail sales during the first four months of this [...]

UK trade flows are strong. In both directions. A quick glance at today's March report would likely draw the most attention to a widening tendency in monthly deficit. The March figure, £3.84 billion, came down from February's £5.38 [...]