What parts of the world have the best recent performances in industrial production? Here is a ranking of major countries with the highest rate of growth in industrial production:
The Commerce Department released a report on Friday showing a sharp increase in U.S. wholesale inventories in the month of March. The report said wholesale inventories shot up by 1.3 percent in March after climbing by an upwardly revised 0.9 percent in February.
Slovakia's industrial production decreased for the second straight month in March. Industrial production fell 0.9 percent year-on-year in March, slower than the 2.9 percent decline in February. The overall industrial performance was most significantly affected by lower manufacture of motor vehicles and a marked decline in manufacture of petroleum products.
Consumer sentiment in the U.S. has deteriorated by more than anticipated in the month of May, according to preliminary data released by the University of Michigan on Friday. The University of Michigan said its consumer sentiment index fell to 48.2 in May from 49.8 in April. Economists had expected the index to edge down to 49.3.
A closely watched report released by the Labor Department on Friday showed much stronger than expected U.S. job growth in the month of April. The Labor Department said non-farm payroll employment shot up by 115,000 jobs in April after surging by an upwardly revised 185,000 jobs in March. Economists had expected employment to climb by 63,000 jobs.