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In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production fell by 1.1% in the euro area (EA17) and by 0.9% in the EU27 in May 2011, compared with the previous month. In April, production increased by 1.2% in the euro area, but decreased by 0.5% in the EU27.

Rightmove have recorded that the average monthly asking price for property coming to market has fallen for the first time this year. After six consecutive months of rising prices, July has seen a fall of 1.6% (£3,797), eating into the gain of 8.1% over the first half of the year. With around 70% of property marketed so far in 2011 still on the market, new sellers will need an edge over their competition to increase their chances of sales success.

Gallup and Healthways, Inc. (NASDAQ: HWAY) today released findings from the monthly Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index® (WBI) for June 2011. The WBI composite score remains relatively high at 66.7; however, healthy behaviors among Americans are lower than they have been in any other June since the WBI was introduced in 2008.

Global consumer confidence cautiously edged up one index point to 93 in the second quarter as confidence increases in booming Asian markets were offset by European consumers’ growing concerns of an escalating debt crisis, which battered confidence levels in Spain, Italy and France, according to the latest edition of the Nielsen Global Consumer Confidence Index. Consumer confidence rose two points in the U.S. in Q2 to 87, where the world’s largest economy continued on course for a slow, but steady climb out of the recession. Consumer Confidence Index levels above and below a baseline of 100 indicate degrees of optimism and pessimism.

The tsunami of the Great Recession swept over the United States taking away jobs and economic security for many. The wave hit men before women and men lost more jobs than women over a longer period, according to new research from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) released today. Overall the recovery is lagging. The latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show that while men have gained slightly more jobs—even relative to the number they lost—women are still dragging along the bottom.

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) decreased 0.2 percent in June on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.6 percent before seasonal adjustment.

All employees

Real average hourly earnings for all employees rose 0.2 percent from May to June, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This change stemmed from a 0.2 percent decrease in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), while average hourly earnings remained unchanged.

The first estimate for euro area (EA17) trade with the rest of the world in May 2011 was in balance, compared with a deficit of 4.9 bn euro in May 2010. The April 2011 balance was -4.8 bn, compared with -0.8 bn in April 2010. In May 2011 compared with April 2011, seasonally adjusted exports rose by 1.5% and imports by 0.2%.

Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing mortgage rates following long-term bond yields lower amid weaker than expected jobs gains and an increase in the unemployment rate.

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index®(LEI) for Spain remained unchanged and The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index®(CEI) decreased 0.1 percent in May.