Economy in Brief: February 2020

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that its Mortgage Loan Index increased 1.1% during the week of February 7 following two weeks of strong gain. Applications to refinance a loan strengthened 5.0% (206.5% y/y) and added to the [...]

The Bank of France survey saw a small decay in its headline index to 95.9 in January from 96.3 in December. At 95.9, it is below its 12-month average and farther below its longer average back to 1990. The rank percentile standing for [...]

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the total job openings rate declined to 4.0% during December from an unrevised 4.3% in November. It was the lowest openings rate in two years and remained below the 4.8% record high in [...]

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) reported that its Small Business Optimism Index improved 1.6% (3.1% y/y) to 104.3 during January and reversed its December decline. The reading remained 4.1% below the high [...]

Retail gasoline prices fell to $2.42 per gallon (+6.3% y/y) in the week ended February 10 from $2.46 per gallon in the previous week. This was the fifth consecutive weekly decline and compared to an early-May peak of $2.90 per gallon. [...]

The Industrial Materials Price Index from the Foundation for International Business and Economic Research (FIBER) declined 2.0% during the four weeks ended Friday and 4.0% over the last year. The price index had been increasing as [...]

The Industrial Materials Price Index from the Foundation for International Business and Economic Research (FIBER) declined 2.0% during the four weeks ended Friday and 4.0% over the last year. The price index had been increasing as [...]

The Industrial Materials Price Index from the Foundation for International Business and Economic Research (FIBER) declined 2.0% during the four weeks ended Friday and 4.0% over the last year. The price index had been increasing as [...]