Quick Overview

• The number of U.S. workers filing for initial unemployment benefits fell by 4,000 to 315,000 for the week ended Aug. 20, the Labor Department reported Thursday
  
  
  

• YoY Consumer prices in Germany were up 1.9% in August.
  

• Japan's exports were up 4.3% in July and imports were up 11.6%.
  

• The International Cocoa Organization upped the 2004-2005 world cocoa production shortfall from 44,000 tons to 106,000 tons. They expect 2004-2005 world net production to total 3.16 million tons and world grindings to total 3.27 million tons.