Economy in Brief

Consumer credit outstanding grew $16.42 billion during March following a $13.75 billion February gain, revised from $15.2 billion. January's rise also was lessened to $9.73 billion. A $15.0 billion increase had been expected in the [...]

Today I feature Spain's industrial output. It is the Cinco de Mayo which is a Mexican, not a Spanish, holiday (lo siento mucho!-loosely translated that's 'sorry about that'). The holiday commemorates a Mexican victory over the French [...]

The job market firmed with the beginning of spring. Nonfarm payrolls rose 211,000 (1.4% y/y) during April. The rise followed a 79,000 March gain and a 232,000 February rise. These figures together were revised down by 6,000. [...]

The job market firmed with the beginning of spring. Nonfarm payrolls rose 211,000 (1.4% y/y) during April. The rise followed a 79,000 March gain and a 232,000 February rise. These figures together were revised down by 6,000. [...]

Manufacturing sector orders improved 0.2% during March following a 1.2% February gain, revised from 1.0%. Durable goods orders increased 0.9% (4.8% y/y), revised from the advance report of a 0.7% gain. Transportation sector orders [...]

Growth in nonfarm output per hour during Q1'17 eased at a 0.6% annual rate (+1.1% y/y) following a 1.8% Q4 increase. No change in productivity had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Output grew 1.0% (2.4% y/y) and [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance dropped back to 238,000 during the week ended April 29 from 257,000 in the prior week, which was unrevised. Expectations in the Action Economics Forecast Survey had called for 246,000 claims. [...]

Euro area retail sales were soft again in March. Nonfood sales are up by 0.2% and up at a 2% annualized pace over three months, at a 0.4% pace over six months and at a 1.7% pace over 12 months. For an economic area sporting its best [...]