January 27, 2012
- The Texas economy continues to expand at a moderate pace. Texas employment grew at a 2 percent rate in 2011. Government employment rose in November and December following four months of sharp declines.
- Recently released indicators suggest that overall economic activity picked up in the fourth quarter of 2011. Consumption, housing and inventory data are evidence of firmer growth.
- The global economy is expected to slow. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development estimates in its January Economic Outlook that world gross domestic product (GDP) will grow 3.4 percent in 2012, following growth of 3.8 percent in 2011. This is down from 5 percent growth in 2010.
- 2011 continued the upward trend in oil prices. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil prices averaged $95 per barrel in 2011, 19.7 percent higher than in 2010, but saw significant variability as concerns over the European debt crisis caused prices to fall midyear.
January 21, 2012
- The latest data suggest a pickup in activity in the fourth quarter. Industrial production ticked up, exports rose in November, and employment grew strongly in December. The peso fell relative to the dollar in December, and inflation increased considerably in November and December. Retail sales dipped in October.
January 12, 2012
- The Texas economy grew at a moderate pace in November, with employment expanding at a 2.0 percent annual rate. Texas existing-home sales increased, but single-family housing permits and housing starts fell. Texas exports held steady. Manufacturing activity weakened slightly in December, according to the Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey's production index.
January 1, 2012
- According to the business-cycle index produced by the Dallas Fed, economic activity in the Houston metropolitan area grew at an annualized rate of 2.4 percent in August. In spite of a troublingly weak national economy, the Houston region has produced continually robust growth by most aggregate metrics. The outlook for Houston remains positive.
December 16, 2011
- Growth in the Texas economy slowed slightly in October due to continued declines in state and local government employment and the further weakening of exports.
December 8, 2011
- The Mexican economy accelerated slightly in the third quarter, according to recently released data. Mexico gross domestic product (GDP) grew 1.3 percent quarter over quarter, up from 1.1 percent in the second quarter. Slower growth in manufacturing, construction, mining and services was partly offset by robust growth in the agricultural sector.