ThinkstockIndia is supposed to be one of the great BRIC emerging market nations that offers massive growth and opportunity for investors. Some 1.2 billion people live in India, and its economic expansion historically has been a…
ThinkstockThe trade balance, better known as the trade deficit, widened out in May to -$45 billion in the preliminary report, and now the June report shows that the trade deficit came in much lower…
ThinkstockMonday brought the July ISM non-manufacturing report, which showed another month of growth with a reading of 56.0. This was much higher than expected, as Bloomberg had a consensus estimate of 53.0 and Dow…
ThinkstockIceland generally does well according to most socioeconomic measures. Its citizens tend to be healthy, well-paid and content. It’s no surprise that the Scandinavian country has the lowest rate of unemployment based on a…
ThinkstockIn a tracking survey that estimates the percentage of the U.S. population employed at least 30 hours a week, Gallup reports that the Payroll to Population (P2P) employment rate remained essentially flat, down just…
ThinkstockThe Institute for Supply Management (ISM) has reported that manufacturing is suddenly booming in America. Its July Manufacturing Index rose handily to 55.4 from only 50.9 in June. Dow Jones was looking for an…
ThinkstockChina’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI) figure for July was weak, or modest, depending on the source, but certainly no cause for optimism about a sharp slowing of the world’s largest economy. After adjusting for…
ThinkstockThe U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) has released its preliminary report on second-quarter gross domestic product (GDP). This report will be subject to two future revisions, but note that today’s report is considered…
ThinkstockADP has released its monthly payrolls report ahead of Friday’s key unemployment and private sector payrolls report from the U.S. Labor Department. The news looks good on the surface, as ADP signaled that the…
ThinkstockThe number of people employed in New York City, Dallas and Houston rose sharply in June, compared to a year ago, based on total number of people employed. Among all U.S. cities, these three…
U.S. National Park ServiceLast Friday, an unidentified person threw green paint on the Lincoln Memorial. Earlier today, a woman was arrested in connection with the act. The Lincoln Memorial, which alone had nearly 6.2…
ThinkstockOn a week that includes a Federal Reserve FOMC meeting, it is fair to ask if reports such as the Conference Board’s report on consumer confidence are relevant. At issue are not the data…
ThinkstockThe mood of Germans, the PMI and business outlook of companies, and the gross domestic product (GDP) continue to defy the balance of Europe, and even the very modest improvements of similar indices in…
With all of the talk about quantitative easing and interest rates and even a coming replacement for Ben Bernanke at the Federal Reserve, very little discussion has been given to a methodology change in…
ThinkstockTropical Storm Dorian formed way out in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday, and so far its projected cone path from the National Hurricane Center has not really changed. The storm is still way out…