| Today's Economy
Economic Roundup: Jobless Claims Start to Rise The latest data show a climb in weekly claims for unemployment insurance in the U.S. Europe Daily Briefing: Great Expectations Sentiment in the euro zone lifts as industry and consumers start 2025 with less pessimism. Asia-Pacific Daily Briefing: Aussie Supermarkets Calibrate to Cost-Conscious Shoppers Headwinds to retail sales are set to lighten. Economic Roundup: New-Home Sales Slide In January, sales headed lower, down 10.5% from the prior month. » VIEW MORE TODAY'S ECONOMY
Commentary
Easing in the Antipodes A solitary 25-basis point Aussie rate cut contrasts with a volley of chunky cuts in New Zealand. The New Realpolitik Europe needs to understand Trump before it can calibrate an appropriate response. U.S. Federal Outlook: New DOGE, Old Tricks Our forecast for federal employment was lowered significantly based on DOGE’s actions. Global Energy Outlook: From the Top on Down We expect the price of Brent to average $76 per barrel in 2025, down from $80 in 2024. » VIEW MORE COMMENTARY
Today's Economic Indicators
Switzerland
GDP
2024Q4: 0.5% q/q
Switzerland’s GDP grew 0.5% q/q in the fourth quarter, speeding up from a 0.2% gain previously. Euro Zone
Business and Consumer Sentiment
Feb. 2025: 96.3
The euro zone’s economic sentiment indicator rose to 96.3 in February from 95.3 in January. Belgium
Consumer Price Index
Feb. 2025: 3.5% y/y
In February, Belgium’s CPI inflation rate dropped to 3.5% y/y from 4.1% in January. France
Job Seekers
Jan. 2025: 3.16 mil
In January, the number of job seekers in France surged by 204,800 to 3.16 million. Brazil
Employment Situation
Jan. 2025: 6.5%
The unemployment rate continued to increase in January, affected by the economy’s slowdown and the seasonal factor at the start of the year. Mexico
Employment Situation
Jan. 2025: 2.7% Unemployment
Mexico's unemployment rate started the year with a seasonal rebound produced by the slow start of activity in January and the loss of temporary jobs. Mexico
Trade Balance
Jan. 2025: -US$4.558mil
The trade account started the year with a widening deficit, a typical event in the first month of each year. United States
Jobless Claims
February 22: 242,000
U.S. initial claims for unemployment insurance are on the rise. United States
Durable Goods (Advance)
Jan. 2025: 3.1% m/m
New orders for U.S. durable goods increased to start the new year, rising 3.1% in January. United States
GDP
2024Q4: 2.3%, q/q, SAAR
U.S. economic growth remained strong in the fourth quarter, coming in at 2.3%, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis’s second estimate. Canada
Balance of International Payments
2024Q4: -C$5.0 bil
Canada's current account deficit widened by C$1.4 billion to C$5 billion, seasonally adjusted, in the fourth quarter, from the combination of a smaller surplus in investment income and a larger deficit in traded services. Financing of the fourth-quarter deficit came largely from net foreign purchases of Canadian debt. Canada
Earnings, Hours and Employment
Dec. 2024: 5.8% y/y
In December, the number of employees receiving pay and benefits from their employer increased by 25,300 positions (0.1%) after a slight decline in November and three months of little change before that. United States
Pending Home Sales
Jan. 2025: -4.6% m/m
The National Association of Realtors' pending home sales index declined again in January, dropping 4.6% from the previous month and 5.2% from a year earlier. United States
St. Louis Fed Financial Stress Index
February 21: -0.76
The St. United States
Natural Gas Storage Report
February 21: -261 bil cubic feet
Last week’s decline in natural gas inventories fell short of analyst predictions. United States
Kansas City Fed Manufacturing Survey
Feb. 2025: -5
Manufacturing activity in the Tenth District declined in February, according to the Kansas City Fed’s Manufacturing Survey. Japan
Industrial Production
Jan. 2025:
Philippines
Foreign Trade
Jan. 2025:
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