Economy in Brief

Sales of existing single-family homes increased 4.4% during March to 5.710 million units (AR) and reversed a 3.9% February decline to 5.470 million, revised from 5.480 million. The latest level of sales was the highest since February [...]

You have to admit, it's getting better, it's getting better, All the time (it can't get no worse) Lennon and McCartney Well, of course, things can always get worse. But the euro area is getting better, and my reference to the famous [...]

The Philadelphia Federal Reserve reported that its General Factory Sector Business Conditions Index fell to 22.0 during April from an unrevised 32.8 in March. The latest monthly reading compared to expectations for 25.0 in the Action [...]

The Philadelphia Federal Reserve reported that its General Factory Sector Business Conditions Index fell to 22.0 during April from an unrevised 32.8 in March. The latest monthly reading compared to expectations for 25.0 in the Action [...]

The Conference Board's Composite Index of Leading Economic Indicators increased 0.4% (3.5% y/y) during March following a 0.5% February rise, initially reported as 0.6%. A 0.2% rise had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast [...]

Japan trade trends, broadly considered, seem to be stabilizing. At 172 billion yen, Japan's March surplus is lower than in February but higher than January and about 100 billion yen below its three-month average. But in broad terms, [...]

Initial unemployment claims for unemployment insurance rose to 244,000 during the week ended April 15 (-5.1% y/y) from an unrevised 234,000 in the prior week. It was the highest level of claims in three weeks. Expectations had been [...]

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that its total Mortgage Applications Volume Index declined 1.8% last week (-24.9% y/y) in the week of April 14, more than reversing the 1.5% w/w rise in the preceding week. Refinancing [...]