who would have thought?… Dallas Fed Mfg Survey Highlights Texas factory activity was flat in January. The production index, a key measure of state manufacturing conditions, came in at 0.7, indicating output was essentially unchanged from December. Other survey measures … Continue reading →

A zig down here often means a similar increase in bank lending as one substitutes for the other: ;) Steepest Oil-Rig Drop Shows Shale Losing Fight to OPEC

This tick up might mean nothing, but could also be the start of a move up due to the fall off in oil capital expenditures: Jobless Claims Highlights Jobless claims jumped sharply in the January 10 week, up 19,000 to … Continue reading →

Maybe somehow the higher interest rates set by the CB support the higher rates of inflation? ;) Brazil’s Inflation Rises Even Amid Low Growth (WSJ) Brazil’s official IPCA consumer-price index rose 6.41% in 2014. The IPCA rose 5.91% in 2013. Annual inflation … Continue reading →

PMI Manufacturing Index Highlights Slowing growth is the signal from Markit’s US manufacturing sample where the final composite score came in at 53.9, down from November’s 54.8. The flash reading for December was 53.7. New business gains and output both … Continue reading →

As previously discussed, the Saudis set price, currently via spreads, etc. and let the refiners buy all they want at those posted prices. And as the chart shows, demand for Saudi oil has remained relatively high and relatively stable. That … Continue reading →

They give some indication of the macro economy

As 2015 Starts, the American Consumer Is Back Hardly!