Economy in Brief: December 2006

The University of Michigan's preliminary reading of consumer sentiment this month fell 2.1% from November to 90.2. The decline followed a 1.6% November drop and compared to Consensus expectations for a slight increase to 92.5. During [...]

Nonfarm payrolls in November rose 132,000 and though the gain in the prior month was reduced slightly, the net upward revision during September and October totaled 55,000 jobs. Consensus expectations for November had been for a [...]

Nonfarm payrolls in November rose 132,000 and though the gain in the prior month was reduced slightly, the net upward revision during September and October totaled 55,000 jobs. Consensus expectations for November had been for a [...]

Last week, a 34,000 decline in initial unemployment insurance claims to 324,000 retraced all of the prior period's little revised jump. The decline nearly matched Consensus expectations for 320,000 claims. During the last ten years [...]

Last week, a 34,000 decline in initial unemployment insurance claims to 324,000 retraced all of the prior period's little revised jump. The decline nearly matched Consensus expectations for 320,000 claims. During the last ten years [...]

UK industrial production declined unexpected in October, falling 0.8% compared to +0.1% forecast by a couple of consensus surveys of economists. The manufacturing sector was off 0.5%, in the face of an expected 0.2% increase. A number [...]

The total number of mortgage applications rose 8.1% last week and recovered all of the sharp declines during the prior two weeks, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Purchase applications jumped 4.9%, the largest weekly [...]

Factory inventories rose an even slower 0.4% during October, half the 0.8% average gain during the prior six months. It was the slowest increase since a 0.5% decline in inventories during February and the y/y rise ticked lower to [...]