Economic News
US precautionary savings jump in December, even as personal income surges
Faced with volatility in capital markets and perhaps also due to the partial shutdown of the US federal government, Americans reined in their spending at the end of 2018, opting to put aside a surge in disposable income as savings.
US manufacturing activity cools in February and worse may be yet to come
US manufacturing activity cooled last month, according to the most widely-followed survey of conditions in that sector, with some economists warning that "worse is probably yet to come".
Michigan consumer confidence index misses initial estimate
Consumer sentiment in the US improved less than initially estimated in February, according to a final reading from the University of Michigan.
Eurozone inflation ticks higher, unemployment rate steady
Eurozone inflation ticked a little higher in February, while the unemployment rate for January held steady, according to data released by Eurostat on Friday.
Jumps in business and consumer lending 'a blip'
Consumer and business lending jumped in January, Bank of England data showed on Friday.
UK manufacturing orders slide but stockpiling boosts output
UK manufacturers benefitted from further stockpiling last month, as companies looked to prepare for potential Brexit-related disruptions, with new orders almost stagnant.