US retail sales increased less than expected in July and may slow further in the coming months due to a spike in new COVID-19 cases and a drop in unemployment benefits. The US Commerce Department said retail sales rose 1.2% last month, down from a 8.4% advance in June. Economists …
Read More »French Government: Paris is a High-Risk Area Again
According to a decree published on Friday, the French government has declared the capital, Paris, and the Bouches-du-Rhone region around Marseille on the Mediterranean coast, “red” areas where the chances of infection with the Coronavirus are high. The decree gives local authorities the power to control the movement of people …
Read More »US Weekly Jobless Claims Fall Below One Million
There were 963,000 Initial Claims for unemployment benefits in the US during the week ending August 8st, Labor Department revealed on Thursday, better than the market expectation of 1.1 million and it’s the first reading below 1 million since mid-March.
Read More »French Unemployment Rate Hits 37-Year Low
Data from the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies in France showed that unemployment in the country fell to its lowest level in 37 years during Q2, as a downward trend that continued for several years was exacerbated by the general isolation measures imposed to confront the Coronavirus, which …
Read More »Gold Rises on Increased Demand And Lower USD
Gold rose Thursday, August 13th, thanks to the dollar’s decline, to record further gains above the critical $ 1900 level, after a sharp retreat earlier in the week from its highest levels ever. By 07:08 GMT, spot gold increased 0.6% to $ 1929.13 an ounce, after falling below $ 1900 …
Read More »IEA Sees Lower Oil Demand in 2020
The International Energy Agency has revised its oil demand forecast for 2020 by 8.1 million barrels per day, warning that reducing air travel due to the Coronavirus will reduce global oil demand. The Paris-based International Energy Agency lowered its forecast for 2020 by 140,000 bpd to 91.9 million bpd, the …
Read More »OPEC Monthly Report: Global Growth Forecast to 4% in 2020
OPEC said that global oil demand will decline further in 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and added that the recovery next year will face great uncertainty, indicating growing adverse factors for the organization and its allies in supporting the market. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said …
Read More »US: Real Average Hourly Earnings Decline by 0.4% in July
Real average hourly earnings in the US decreased by 0.4% on a monthly basis in July. US Dollar Index dropped below 93.50 after this report.Real average hourly earnings for all employees in the US declined by 0.4% from June to July (seasonally adjusted), the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported …
Read More »US Consumer Prices Rose 0.6% in July
Consumer prices in the US rose more than expected in July, but rising unemployment will likely keep inflation under control, allowing the Federal Reserve to continue pumping liquidity into the economy to help it recover from the recession caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The US Labor Department said its consumer …
Read More »A Disappointing Recovery in Eurozone Industrial Production in June
Official data showed an increase in industrial production for the euro area in June, but the recovery that came after record declines in March and April caused by the Coronavirus pandemic was below expectations for the second month in a row and slower than May. The increase in industrial production …
Read More »