| Today's Economy
Economic Briefing: German Unemployment Likely Ended 2017 at a Record Low U.S. vehicle sales likely slipped to 17.4 million annualized units in December. Economic Roundup: Strong End to 2017, Busy Start to 2018 Sentiment remained high and odds of recession low; fiscal challenges loom. No Respite After U.S. Tax Legislation Lawmakers now need to strike a spending deal by January 19 to avoid a shutdown. Euro Zone Manufacturing Ends 2017 With a Bang Sentiment improved in the euro zone, but it dipped in the U.K. » VIEW MORE TODAY'S ECONOMY
Commentary
U.S. Chartbook: The Key Questions for 2018 Lower unemployment, above-trend growth, and higher interest rates are coming this year. 2018 Global Outlook: Firing on All Cylinders The synchronized expansion will be sustained through 2018, but risks are on the horizon. U.S. Weekly Highlights and Preview, December 29, 2017 No time to nurse a holiday hangover. Forecasters' Mailbag: Drilling Into Australia's Rising LNG Supply In the final stretch of an LNG construction boom, domestic supply shortages linger. » VIEW MORE COMMENTARY
Today's Economic Indicators
United States
Moody's CMBS Delinquency Tracker
Nov. 2017: 6.30%
The Moody’s Delinquency Tracker total delinquency rate inched down 4 basis points to 6.3% in November. United States
Vehicle Sales - AutoData
Dec. 2017: 17.8 mil, SAAR
Ending a tumultuous 2017 on a high note, U.S. Germany
Unemployment
Dec. 2017: 5.5%
Germany’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at a record low of 5.5% in December, after the November number was revised down from 5.6%. Chile
Retail & Wholesale Sales
Nov. 2017: 6.0%
Chile’s retail and wholesale sales index turned in another month of strong growth in November. United States
MBA Mortgage Applications Survey
December 29: 0.7%
Mortgage applications increased marginally last week. Peru
Consumer Price Index
Dec. 2017: 1.4%
The consumer price index for the Lima metropolitan area inched up in December, but gains were insufficient to slow the decline in inflation on a year-ago basis. United States
ISM - NY Report
Dec. 2017: 56.3
New York City’s purchasing managers are as hopeful as a child on Christmas Eve, based on the most recent ISM-New York Report on Business. United States
ISM Manufacturing Index
Dec. 2017: 59.7
U.S. manufacturing ended 2017 on a positive note and the momentum bodes well for factory production early this year. United States
Construction Spending (C30)
Nov. 2017: 0.8%
Total construction spending in November increased 0.8% from a month earlier, outperforming the consensus forecast of a 0.5% increase. United States
FOMC Minutes
Dec. 2017:
At first glance, there don’t appear to be any surprises in the minutes of the December meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee. » VIEW MORE ECONOMIC INDICATORS | 
