Economy in Brief: March 2021

• Total borrowing in U.S. economy = 24.3% of GDP in Q4, up from 15.4% in Q3. • Federal government biggest borrowing sector, at $2.5 trillion in Q4 (SAAR). • Financial institutions were next largest, borrowing $1.1 trillion in Q4; had [...]

The German HICP was flat in February as the core fell by 0.1%. The German CPI went its own way rising by 0.4% in February with the core up by 0.2% month-to-month. The annual data show the HICP up by 1.6% with the core up by 1.7% while [...]

• Gasoline & food prices strengthen. • Core finished goods price inflation moderates. • Service prices edge higher following January spike. The Producer Price Index for final demand rose 0.5% (2.8% y/y) in February following a 1.3% [...]

• Initial claims fall to lowest level in four months. • Continuing claims also post sharp decline. • Insured jobless rate drops again. The job market continues to exhibit signs of healing. Initial claims for unemployment insurance [...]

Twelve of the earliest EMU members had reported IP for January. Only three of them showed a decline in January output month-to-month (Germany, Spain and Portugal). Sweden, a non-EMU country, also had an output decline. In December [...]

• Both the job openings rate & the number of openings improve slightly. • Hiring activity continues to weaken. • Layoffs & quits ease. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that on the last business day of January, the total job [...]

• Initial claims fall to lowest level in four months. • Continuing claims also post sharp decline. • Insured jobless rate drops again. The job market continues to exhibit signs of healing. Initial claims for unemployment insurance [...]

• Coronavirus relief drives spending. • Revenues begin to rise with economy. U.S. Treasury Department reported a federal budget deficit of $310.9 billion during February compared to a deficit of $235.3 billion one year earlier. The [...]