Economy in Brief: September 2015

Consumer credit outstanding increased $19.1 billion during July after rising $27.0 billion in June, which was revised noticeably from $20.7 billion reported before. July expectations were for an $18.0 billion increase, according to [...]

German exports surged by 2.4% in July, more than offsetting the 1.1% drop in June. The euro exchange rate continues weak, bolstering German exports. Exports are outpacing imports handily over three months and six months. But year- [...]

The National Federation of Independent Business reported that the small business outlook was little changed in August. Its Small Business Optimism Index edged up to 95.9 in August from 95.4 in July, but remains below the 96.8 average [...]

Last month's increase in payroll employment disappointed expectations and rose 173,000 (2.1% y/y), the weakest increase since March. A gain of 215,000 had been expected in the Action Economic Forecast Survey. The July increase was, [...]

German orders fell sharply by 1.4% in July, backtracking on most of the gain made in June. The June gain was made on the back of strong foreign orders; similarly, the July drop is on the back of an outsized drop in foreign orders. [...]

Last month's increase in payroll employment disappointed expectations and rose 173,000 (2.1% y/y), the weakest increase since March. A gain of 215,000 had been expected in the Action Economic Forecast Survey. The July increase was, [...]

The outplacement firm of Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported that job cut announcements during August declined sharply to 41,186 (+2.9% y/y) and more-than-reversed July's unrevised surge to 105,496. Layoffs pulled back in the [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance rebounded to 282,000 during the week ended August 29 from 270,000 in the prior week, revised from 271,000. It was the highest level of claims since the first week of July. The four-week moving [...]