Economy in Brief: October 2015

Inventories at the wholesale level increased 0.9% during June (5.4% y/y) following a 0.6% May gain, revised from 0.8%. The rise was paced by a 2.0% jump (15.0% y/y) in automotive products inventories and a 1.5% rise in furniture (7.8% [...]

In August U.K trade data are relatively upbeat as exports rise 3.5% overall and imports fall by 0.7%. But the broader picture is still disconcerting. Over three months exports are falling at a 24% annual rate as imports advance at a [...]

Import prices eased 0.1% during September (-10.7% y/y) following a revised 1.6% drop during August, revised from -1.8%. A 0.5% decline had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. A 1.1% increase (-46.1% y/y) in [...]

The OECD area shows a step down to 99.9 from 100 demonstrating sub-normal growth. The U.S. index fell to 99.2 in August from 99.5. The U.K. fell from 99.7 to 99.5 in August. Japan fell to 99.8 in August from 99.9. China fell to 97.2 [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance declined to 263,000 (-11.6% y/y) during the week ended October 3rd from a little-revised 276,000 during the prior week. It was the lowest level since the middle of July. The four week moving [...]

Consumer credit outstanding increased $16.02 billion (6.8% y/y) during August following an $18.94 billion July rise, revised from $19.1 billion. It was the weakest increase in six months. Expectations were for an $18.8 billion gain in [...]

In August German IP fell by 1.2% marking declines in two of the last three months. Last month's 1.2% gain is offset by this month's 1.2% drop. Consumer goods and capital goods output both fell in August; intermediate goods output was [...]

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that its total Mortgage Market Volume Index jumped 25.5% last week (52.4% y/y). It was the highest level of applications since late-January. Home purchase applications surged 27.4% (48.9% y/y) [...]