Thursday, December 13, 2007

Quick Overview

  • U.S. Retail sales rose 1.2% in November, much stronger than expected. Excluding autos, sales were up 1.8% in November.

  • Prices paid to U.S. producers rose 3.2% in November and up 7.2% YoY— the fastest pace in 34 years. Excluding food and energy, prices rose 0.4% in November.

  • Canada’s manufacturing sales rose 0.1% in October

  • Australia’s unemployment rate rose to 4.5% vs. 4.3% expected

  • China’s November industrial production rose 17.3% vs. 18.0% expected

  • Since cumulative wheat sales have reached an amazing 89.6% of the USDA forecast as compared to 66.7% on average, there is now talk, that stocks will at some point be wiped out and the US may be forced to curtail or embargo further sales.


  • Japan will invest US$239.05 million in the Mombasa Port Development Project, thus doubling Kenya's capacity by 2018.


No comments: