Economy in Brief: 2009

For the first time since July 2007 when wind of the sub prime mortgage crisis in the United States began to surface, there were more optimists than pessimists among German analysts and institutional investors regarding the outlook six [...]

Regular gasoline prices last week held firm at $2.06 per gallon, the highest level since last November. The latest was up 42 cents from the December low. On news of a weakening U.S. economy, however, the spot market price for regular [...]

Regular gasoline prices last week held firm at $2.06 per gallon, the highest level since last November. The latest was up 42 cents from the December low. On news of a weakening U.S. economy, however, the spot market price for regular [...]

European orders are still on bad trends. But France is showing some life in February. As life signs go it’s still a weak vital sign despite its apparent vigor. Orders did jump by 5.2% in nominal terms in February, just one month after [...]

The March National Activity Index (CFNAI) from the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank remained negative last month. At -2.96 the figure was roughly stable with February but both figures were up marginally from the low reading of -4.03 [...]

The Conference Board reported that the March composite index of leading economic indicators fell 0.3% to the lowest level since early-2003. The decline in the February index was revised to a shortfall of 0.2%. Foreshadowing the [...]

The Conference Board reported that the March composite index of leading economic indicators fell 0.3% to the lowest level since early-2003. The decline in the February index was revised to a shortfall of 0.2%. Foreshadowing the [...]

Trends are getting worse. The EMU trade deficit improved in February on a tiny rise in exports as imports continued to drop. Even though both exports and imports put in an ‘improved performance’ in February compared to January the [...]