Is Consumer Confidence Even Relevant?
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…
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Newest first · Page 326German Consumer Mood Improves — GfK
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…
Bracing for Changes in GDP Reporting
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…
Tropical Storm Dorian Threat Remains for the Week Ahead
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…
Consumer Sentiment Makes Big Move Higher in July
ThinkstockThe Reuters/University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index is an index that we maintain is not as accurate nor as fair as most economic reports. After all, it is sold as a subscription and it…
States Sending the Most People to Prison
ThinkstockLast year, 1.57 million Americans served prison sentences in state or federal penitentiaries, a slight decrease from nearly 1.6 million in 2011, according to figures released Thursday by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). Despite…
Total Blowout on Durable Goods in June — on the Surface at Any Rate
Courtesy EADS/AirbusWhen you see a blowout in durable goods, you usually have to get the reminder that the number is one of the most volatile of all economic releases and can be wildly up…
Spain Unemployment Remains More Than 26%
ThinkstockTo the naked eye, new data from Spain’s National Statistics Institute appears positive. The unemployment rate in the second quarter was 26.3%, down from 27.2% in the first three months of the year. However,…
Ifo Business Climate in Germany Rises in July
ThinkstockThe Ifo Business Climate index for Germany in July showed an improvement, bolstered other data about a stronger economy in the European Union’s largest economy by gross domestic product (GDP). Markit released PMI data that also…
Global Natural Disaster Losses Hit $85 billion
National Hurrican CenterFlood, drought, pestilence. Old Testament style disasters cost $85 billion in the first half of 2013, according to the Aon Benfield “Global Natural Disaster Analysis.” According to the report: Global natural disaster losses…
The 50 Best U.S. Cities for Employment Satisfaction
ThinkstockThe best company to work, the worst, and the new “50 Best U.S. Cities for Employment Satisfaction” study from industry leading employee opinion group Glassdoor. The actual list would be better called a review…
Hurricane Watch: Tropical Storm Dorian Forms in Atlantic Ocean
ThinkstockTropical Storm Dorian has officially formed out in the open Atlantic Ocean. The 2013 hurricane season has been largely without incident so far, and this storm is actually so far out that the Caribbean…
Eurozone PMI Shows Unexpected Recovery
ThinkstockEurope’s economy has shown unexpected resilience, and it may even be recovering from a deep recession, according to PMI data from Markit that covers July, Since the EU economy is the largest by gross…
China PMI Collapse, as German PMI Surges
ThinkstockChina’s fresh purchasing managers index (PMI) data showed its economy has moved toward a state of stagnation, and manufacturing has moved into reverse. In the meantime, the PMI number for Germany moved sharply in…
More Optimistic Outlook from Privately Held U.S. Companies
ThinkstockIn the second quarter of 2013, 59% of privately held companies surveyed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP were optimistic about the U.S. economy. That’s up from 50% in the first quarter of this year and 50%…