Economy in Brief

Perhaps the most surprising development this month is the sharp improvement in Italy's index. The overall EMU sentiment reading rose to 111.9 in August from 111.3 in July (a gain of 0.5%). The Italian gauge jumped by 3.4%, the second [...]

Economic growth during Q2'17 was revised higher to 3.0% (2.2% y/y) from 2.6% in the advance report. It was the quickest rate of increase since Q1'15. Growth of 2.8% had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Reported [...]

The ADP/Moody's National Employment Report indicated that private nonfarm payrolls increased 237,000 (2.0% y/y) during August following a 201,000 July rise, revised from 178,000. June's 192,000 increase was little revised. Monthly [...]

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index strengthened 2.4% during August to 122.9 following a 2.3% July rise, revised from 3.2%. The index was just below its recent peak in March and neared the highest level since December 2000. [...]

Good times in the euro area The GfK survey somehow magically surveys (projects) German confidence for the month ahead. The reading for September has ticked up from its August level to reach a new high in the series (it dates from [...]

Hurricane Harvey lifted gasoline futures to $1.71 per gallon yesterday, up 13 cents from $1.58 per gallon one week earlier. For the week ended August 28, regular gasoline prices at the pump rebounded four cents to $2.40 per gallon [...]

In the wake of the Federal Reserve's monetary conclave in the wilds of Jackson Hole Wyoming (albeit 'wilds' with room service), we find that global monetary conditions remain as they have been. This, of course, is not surprising since [...]

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas indicated in its Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey that the August General Business Activity Index rose slightly to 17.0 from 16.8 in July. Nevertheless, the index remained well below the February [...]