Economy in Brief: August 2009

Japan paradox - The paradox of Japan’s consumer confidence is that the index is over the 50 percent mark of its range. It also stands right at its average level of readings going back to 1988. Even so this is a diffusion index with 50 [...]

The economy must be improving if gasoline prices are rising. Or is it seasonal strength? The pump price for regular gasoline increased last week to an average $2.56 per gallon, though that still was down a nickel from last month's [...]

Businesses have managed their businesses well for the weakened economic environment. That's evident in the labor productivity gains during the last three quarters which stand in sharp contrast to the material declines during the [...]

Times may be improving, but small business' sense of that has sagged of late. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) indicated that for the second consecutive month small business optimism slipped. The July decline [...]

Times may be improving, but small business' sense of that has sagged of late. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) indicated that for the second consecutive month small business optimism slipped. The July decline [...]

Japan's Current Account increased sharply, outpacing expectations, in June to 1,799 billion yen from 1, 016 billion Yen in May. It was moreover, the fifth successive month of increase and the year over year change is now above the [...]

French industrial output in June has expanded by 0.3% m/m after rising by 2.8% in May, turning the three-month rate of growth positive. Capital goods and intermediate goods output lead the rise. The output of consumer goods is still [...]

Consumers' near-term worry is about the poor shape of the U.S. economy and what, for many, are balance sheets loaded with too much debt. The longer-term situation is that the consumer spending cycle has passed its peak and is now [...]