Economy in Brief: October 2016

Manufacturing sector orders improved 0.2% (-1.6% y/y) during August following a 1.4% increase, revised from 1.9%. The rise reflected a 0.1% improvement (-1.1% y/y) in orders for durable goods, which was unrevised from the advance [...]

German service sector weakness clobbers the EMU readings The long slow erosion, depicted in the chart of the EMU region's services PMI, stepped up in September as the EMU service sector index slipped by 0.6 points on the month, its [...]

The Composite Index of Nonmanufacturing Sector Business Activity from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) improved to 57.1 in September from an unrevised 51.4 in August. It was the highest level since October 2015. Expectations [...]

The U.S. trade deficit in goods and services increased to $40.7 billion during August from an unrevised $39.5 billion in July. The Action Economics Forecast Survey expected a $40.0 billion deficit. Overall exports increased 0.8% (0.7% [...]

The ADP/Moody's National Employment Report indicated a 154,000 rise (1.9% y/y) in nonfarm private payrolls during September following a 175,000 August gain, revised from 177,000. It was the smallest rise since April. So far this year, [...]

PPI prices are starting to turn higher. At least the downward momentum is shifting and the rate of change is no longer as powerfully negative. Seven of the thirteen monthly PPI movements in the table are positive in August; that [...]

Regular gasoline prices rose to $2.25 per gallon (-3.1% y/y), the highest level since early July. Prices remained down, however, versus a 2014 high of $3.71 per gallon. Haver Analytics constructs factors adjusting for the seasonal [...]

Total sales of light vehicles during September increased 4.5% (-1.6% y/y) to 17.76 million units (SAAR), and reversed most of August's decline. Auto sales increased 6.9% to 7.24 million units (-8.3% y/y) following a 4.5% drop. The [...]