Economy in Brief: March 2006

Yesterday here, Tom Moeller discussed the Q4 Flow-of-Funds data and highlighted the important role of consumer borrowing during 2005. The release of this enormous body of data permits examination of other parts of consumer balance [...]

Non-farm payrolls rose 243,000 last month following a downwardly revised 170,000 increase during January that was initially reported at 193,000. Consensus expectations had been for a 210,000 increase during February. From the [...]

Non-farm payrolls rose 243,000 last month following a downwardly revised 170,000 increase during January that was initially reported at 193,000. Consensus expectations had been for a 210,000 increase during February. From the [...]

We wrote yesterday in the midst of the monetary policy meeting of the Bank of Japan; we described the voluminous amount of reserves the BoJ has pumped into the banks. As widely expected, the Bank announced that it would reduce this [...]

Growth in total credit market debt outstanding surged 11.4% (AR) last quarter. Faster growth rates often occur during 4Q but that was the quickest since 2002. The acceleration from 3Q was due to a jump in Federal Government borrowing [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance rose 8,000 to 303,000 to the highest level since early January while the prior week's level was revised up slightly. Consensus expectations had been for a decline to 290,000 claims. During the [...]

The U.S. foreign trade deficit surged during January to $68.5B, another record, and far exceeded Consensus expectations for a deficit of $66.5B. The December deficit in goods & services trade was revised slightly lower to $65.1B. [...]

The U.S. foreign trade deficit surged during January to $68.5B, another record, and far exceeded Consensus expectations for a deficit of $66.5B. The December deficit in goods & services trade was revised slightly lower to $65.1B. [...]