Economy in Brief: December 2016

The EMU services gauge finalized shows a lift to 53.8 in November from 52.8 in October. The services, manufacturing and total PMI sector gauges are above their 12-month, six-month and three-month values in November, signaling ongoing [...]

The PPI is off to the races. It is underpinned by oil and oil is underpinned by a new OPEC agreement. We will have to wait and see on OPEC which has in recent years talked a much better game than it has played. The cartel and friends: [...]

Nonfarm payroll employment increased 178,000 (1.6% y/y) during November following revised gains of 142,000 and 208,000 in October and September. These had been reported as 161,000 and 191,000, respectively. A 177,000 rise in [...]

Nonfarm payroll employment increased 178,000 (1.6% y/y) during November following revised gains of 142,000 and 208,000 in October and September. These had been reported as 161,000 and 191,000, respectively. A 177,000 rise in [...]

Total sales of light vehicles during November eased 0.8% (-2.1% y/y) to 17.87 million units (SAAR) from a downwardly revised 18.02 million units in October, revised from 18.29 million units according to Autodata. Pacing the decline [...]

The Markit finalized PMI gauges ticked higher in November on balance. The unweighted average moved up to 51.7 in November from 51.5 in October and its average has been steadily rising when calculated over 12 months, six months and [...]

The value of construction put-in-place increased 0.5% during October following little change in September, revised from -0.4%. September's figure also was revised up to 0.5%. October's reading was the highest level of activity since [...]

Industrial sector activity is developing upward momentum. The ISM composite index of factory sector activity rose to 53.2 during November from an unrevised 51.9 in October. It was the highest level since June, and the eighth month [...]