Manufacturing around the world is slowing, but is lumpy and may just be able to side step Europe’s debt problems.
Comments »China Expects Business Conditions to Remain “Relatively Difficult” This Quarter
“Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said that business conditions may be “relatively difficult” this quarter and monetary policy will be fine-tuned as needed.
“We see downside pressure on our economy and elevated inflation at the same time,” Wen said during a trip over the past two days to Hunan province, according to a statement on the government’s website today. “We also face problems of weakening external demand and rising costs for companies.”
Comments »Manufacturing Shrinks in Singapore
After Five Months of PMI Declines in Europe It is Unlikely They Will Avoid Recession
Europe’s bourse’s experienced a rally off better than expected manufacturing data, but the trend has been consistently down for more than a quarter. Some analysy expect it will be hard to avoid recession. We on the other hand may just pull through.
Comments »Documentary: Ethos
Retailers Rejoice Over Online Sales
Retail Sales Jump 4.5% The Week Before Christmas YoY
Economists Ease Up on Recession Forecasts
A Reminder About Housing From a Shiller Piece of Chart Porn
State of the Nation: Desperate Americans File for Disability Funds
Brazil’s Economy Overtakes The U.K. as the Sixth Largest
Historical Data Predicts No Recession Ahead in 2012
Rental Demand Brings Construction Back to Housing
High demand for rental properties has brought some work back to the housing markets; so let’s celebrate a rental society as the banks foreclose on home ownership.
Comments »European Retailers Feel the Pain of Austerity; Italian Retailers Experience Worst X-Mas in 10 Years
Profits For Chinese Manufacturing Fall on Slower Growth
“Chinese industrial companies’ profits growth cooled, adding to evidence the government may need to ease policy to protect the nation’s economic expansion.
Net income increased 24.4 percent in the first 11 months of 2011 from a year earlier to 4.66 trillion yuan ($737 billion), the National Bureau of Statistics said on its website today. The pace compared with 25.3 percent gain in the first 10 months and a 27 percent rise in the first three quarters.”
Comments »Bank of Japan Warns of Further Economic Risks
“…..Economic uncertainty is deepening around the world, which is showing up in some Japanese statistics on exports and production,” said Hitoshi Asaoka, a Tokyo-based senior strategist at Mizuho Trust & Banking Co. “Investors find it hard to move near year-end…..”
Comments »South Korean Consumer Confidence Falls to a Three Month Low
Stores See Busy, but Not Bang-Up Christmas Eve
NEW YORK/LAS VEGAS (Reuters) – Retailers saw a steady flow of last-minute shoppers on Saturday, the day before Christmas, putting a moderate cap on a pre-holiday season that started with a bang and has since waned.
Industry watchers are forecasting a stronger holiday shopping season than expected, fueled by deep discounts at the start of the season, unusually warm and dry weather, a late Hanukkah, and an extra shopping day.
On the last shopping day before Christmas, the scene at several malls in different parts of the country was busy, but neither shoppers nor retailers seemed overwhelmed.
“The last-minute Charlies have come out,” said Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst at the NPD Group. “Stores are busy, but not bustling.”
The fact that Christmas Eve falls on a Saturday is good for retailers like Wal-Mart Stores, Best Buy and Gap Inc. So is the fact that the day after Christmas is a Monday, instead of a Sunday like last year, when many people stayed home and watched American football, said Ramesh Swamy, an analyst in Deloitte’s retail practice.
“The calendar is working in our favor,” Swamy said.
So is the fact that there was no blizzard this year, like there was last year.
Read the rest here.
Comments »Expect a Better Economy in 2012
Dovish policy and better economic data…now if we could get the wheels put on in Europe.
Comments »Quantity of Jobs Are As Important as Quality of Jobs in America
People are filing for less unemployment lately, but that is only half of the equation when it comes to work. 87% of those polled say the quality of work available is not there for them.
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