Economy in Brief: October 2008

Total U.S. import prices fell slid 3.7% last month after the revised August decline of 2.6%. The September skid contrasted with expectations for a 2.5% drop. Petroleum prices fell about as they did in August, by 9.0%. So far this [...]

The U.S. foreign trade deficit improved in August to an expected $59.1B. That reversed most of the m/m deterioration during July to $61.3B which was a deficit shallower than reported initially. So far this year the monthly trade [...]

The U.S. foreign trade deficit improved in August to an expected $59.1B. That reversed most of the m/m deterioration during July to $61.3B which was a deficit shallower than reported initially. So far this year the monthly trade [...]

The INSEE business climate indicator fell to 92 in September from 94 in August. It now stands in the 38th percentile of its range since 1990. The likely trends assessment by participants at a -41 reading is in the 16th percentile of [...]

Last week, initial claims for unemployment insurance fell 20,000 from the previous week's cycle high of 498,000, which was a level revised up slightly.The four-week moving average also moved to a new high for this cycle of 482,500 [...]

Last week, initial claims for unemployment insurance fell 20,000 from the previous week's cycle high of 498,000, which was a level revised up slightly.The four-week moving average also moved to a new high for this cycle of 482,500 [...]

The National Association of Realtors reported that during August pending sales of existing homes rose 7.4% and reversed the July decline of 2.7% which was revised slightly shallower from the initial report. The August rise compared to [...]

German New Orders and retail sales rose unexpectedly in August. So the August rise in IP of 3.4% is less of a surprise than it otherwise would be. There is a growing consensus that the timing of holidays has had a lot to do with the [...]