Business activity in the United States grew slightly less in February than in the previous month. The British market researcher Markit reported this on the basis of provisional figures. The purchasing managers’ index for the American industry recorded a score of 50.8 for February compared to 51.9 a month earlier. Economists generally counted on a score of 51.5. A position above 50 indicates...
The Japanese economy contracted sharply last quarter. A tax increase led to a sharp fall in business and consumer spending in the Asian country. This is the first contraction for Japan in more than a year. Moreover, the setback is much stronger than the average economists expected. The so-called gross domestic product (GDP) shrank by 6.3 percent on an annual basis in the three months to the end...
Inflation in Germany rose in January to 1.7 percent on an annual basis, from 1.5 percent in December. The German Federal Statistical Office reported this on the basis of a definitive figure. This brought inflation to the highest level in nine months. On a monthly basis, German consumer prices fell by 0.6 percent, against a plus of 0.5 percent a month earlier. On the basis of the European...
China postpones the publication of January import and export figures by one month. This data would actually be published this Friday by the Chinese customs. According to customs, the delay has to do with a lack of information. The January figures will be merged with the February trade figures. China’s trade figures at the beginning of the year are often distorted by the Chinese New Year...
The service sector in China showed less strong growth in January than in December. Market researchers Caixin and Markit announced this. The purchasing managers’ index for the services sector recorded a level of 51.8 against 52.5 a month earlier. A level of 50 or less indicates shrinkage. Economists generally counted on a score of 52.0. According to the researchers, the composite index...
The activity in the large Chinese industry grew slightly less in January. This is according to figures from research agencies Markit and Caixin. The data do not yet include the impact of the outbreak of the new corona virus in the country. The purchasing managers’ index was 51.1 last month, compared to 51.5 a month earlier. A position of 50 or more indicates growth, below which shrinkage...
Inflation in the euro zone rose to 1.4 percent on an annual basis in January, from 1.3 percent in December. The European statistics agency Eurostat reported this on the basis of a provisional figure. The figure corresponds to the average expectation of economists. Core inflation, without the influence of the sharply fluctuating prices for energy and food and beverages, fell to 1.1 percent from 1...
Retail sales in Germany shrunk sharply in December. According to figures from the German Federal Statistical Office, retail sales declined by 3.3 percent on a monthly basis, after an adjusted increase of 1.6 percent in November. It is the strongest decrease since mid-2007. Sales of food, drink and tobacco products decreased. Economists generally expected a decrease of 0.5 percent. On an annual...
The number of home sales handled in the United States fell by 4.9 percent in December compared to a month earlier. The American branch association of brokers reported this. It is the largest decrease since May 2010, partly because fewer homes were put up for sale. On average, economists had expected an increase in the number of provisional sales by 0.5 percent. In November these upcoming home...
The German government believes that economic growth will pick up this year compared to last year. The Minister of Economic Affairs Peter Altmaier announced this on Wednesday. For 2020, Berlin now expects growth of 1.1 percent, from an estimated 0.6 percent in 2019, which was the weakest growth rate in six years. According to Altmaier, the outlook for the German economy has improved. Last fall...