Statistical Notes Monday January 30

-U.S. GDP growth was 2.4% at an annualized rate (2.8% unadjusted for the deterioration in terms of trade) during the fourth quarter, somewhat below expectations, but above the level seen in previous quarters.

Meanwhile, real disposable income rose 0.3% in December while real consumer spending fell 0.1%, raising the savings rate to 4%. Money supply fell slightly the latest week but was still up 9.7% compared to a year earlier.

-Spain's labor market is in a free fall with employment falling 3.26% in the year to the fourth quarter, increasing the unemployment rate to 22.9% overall and more than 50% for youths.

-Euro area money supply growth slowed from 2.1% in November to 1.6% in December.

-Sweden's money supply growth rose by contrast, but was still only 0.9%.

-Real retail sales increased in December by 5% in Estonia and 7.1% in Latvia compared to a year earlier.

Meanwhile, the first estimate of GDP in Lithuania indicates that yearly growth fell from 6.7% in the third quarter to 4.3% in the fourth.

-Employment in Taiwan rose by 0.13% compared to the previous month and 1.8% compared to a year earlier, helping to push down the unemployment rate to a new cyclical low of 4.18%