Economic Data

The latest figures from the US show that the consumer price index rose 0.5% in March, whilst the core personal consumption expenditure price index rose only 0.1%. This column explains the roles of these competing measures and argues that US…

In the week ending April 30, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 474,000, an increase of 43,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 431,000. The 4-week moving average was 431,250, an increase of 22,250…

With the arrival of the first real Japanese data since the Tsunami struck the immensity of the tragedy which Japan is passing through is only now gradually becoming apparent. Exports were down by a seasonally adjusted 7.7% in March over…

Sterling is falling against the US dollar this morning after the April manufacturing PMI has come in weaker than expected at 54.6, the lowest in seven months. Inflation is the third highest since the data was first collected in 1999.

The April 2011 Manufacturing ISM Report On Business came out today and confirmed the slight downward path we have seen since February. Mind you, 60.4% is still a very robust reading. Nevertheless, I still believe the manufacturing sector's…

George Soros makes the case for economics as a social science using his theory of reflexivity. Here are some additional thoughts to help understand why markets fail.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis' (BEA) first ("Advance") estimate of the annualized growth rate of the first quarter 2011 U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 1.75%, down significantly from the 3.11% growth rate reported for the fourth…

Partisans have a well-developed political world view. Facts don't change that view. How does one deal with that? If you're wrong, you will be confronted with a decision on how to react. The insidious thing about this is that when we are…

The power shortages and damaged factories are taking a larger toll than was initially evident. Press reports, for example, warn that the contagion via the supply chains may have greater global impact, which in turn could impact the…

The US and UK report their first estimates of Q1 11 GDP this week. While the US economic data, like ISM readings suggest the US economy is enjoying reasonably good momentum, the GDP components are distinctly softer and suggest a…