Economy in Brief

Import prices fell 0.3% in May (2.1% y/y) following April's 0.2% increase, which was revised from 0.5%. The Action Economics Forecast Survey anticipated no change. These figures are not seasonally adjusted, and they can potentially be [...]

Industrial production was unchanged last month (2.1% y/y) following a 1.1% April jump, revised from 1.0%. A 0.1% rise had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Manufacturing sector output declined 0.4% (+1.4% y/y) [...]

Initial unemployment insurance filings during the week ended June 10 fell to 237,000 (-12.3% y/y) from an unrevised 245,000 during the prior week. Expectations called for 240,000 claims in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. The [...]

At today's meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee, the targeted federal funds rate was increased 25 basis points to a range of 1.00% to 1.25%. The targeted range has been raised four times since the low of 0.12% in place from [...]

The Consumer Price Index eased 0.1% during May (1.9% y/y) following a 0.2% April rise. Expectations had been for no change in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Consumer prices excluding food & energy ticked 0.1% higher for a [...]

Industrial output in the EMU gained 0.5% in April after a 0.2% increase in March. Sequential growth rates show growth and do not signal any new growth trend. But in the quarter-to-date, IP (IP excluding construction) is advancing at a [...]

Business sales continued their modest cooldown in April after their stellar performance at the end of 2016. Sales were unchanged (5.6% y/y) in April from March following a downwardly revised 0.1% decline in March. For the major [...]

Total retail sales and spending at restaurants fell 0.3% during May (+6.0% y/y) following an unrevised 0.4% April rise. A 0.1% increase had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Sales at motor vehicle & parts [...]