Economy in Brief

Personal income increased 0.5% (4.1% y/y) during May following an unrevised 0.5% April gain. A 0.3% rise had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. These monthly increases were the strongest since December. Wages & [...]

The Chicago Purchasing Managers Business Barometer dropped to 49.7 in June from an unrevised 54.2 in May. This is the lowest reading since February 2015 and suggests little growth or even contracting activity in the Chicago area. The [...]

Initial unemployment insurance claims decreased to 216,000 in the week ended June 15 Continuing claims for unemployment insurance also decreased, to 1.662 million in the week ending June 8 Initial unemployment insurance claims [...]

The EU commission index for the EMU fell to 103.3 in June; it was last weaker in August 2016 for one month and in 2016 March and April for two months. But it was last persistently weaker than this level from May 2011 through June 2015 [...]

Economic growth maintained a moderate pace early this year. Gross domestic product, adjusted for price inflation, increased an unrevised 3.1% during Q1'19. The 3.2% y/y growth rate remained the strongest increase since Q2'15. The rise [...]

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that pending home sales rose 1.1% in May (-0.7% year-on-year), reversing much of April's 1.5% decrease. Meanwhile, mortgage rates continue on their downtrend. The effective rate on a [...]

Initial unemployment insurance claims increased 10,000 to 227,000 in the week ended June 22 from a slightly upwardly revised 217,000 (originally 216,000) the previous week. Claims continue to fluctuate around their lowest level in 50 [...]

Activity in the manufacturing sector improved during May. New orders for durable goods increased 1.3% (-2.8% y/y) following a 2.8% April decline, revised from -2.1%. A 0.1% easing in May orders had been expected in the Action [...]