Archive for November, 2012
Monday, November 26th, 2012
- Housing starts increased 3.6% in October, following a 15.1% increase in the previous month.
- October existing home sales increased 2.1% to an annualized rate of 4,790 thousand units.
- The median sales price of existing houses sold was $178.6 thousand, 11.1% above October 2011.
- The housing market index rose five points to 46 in November, its highest level since June 2006.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed fixed mortgage rates dipping to new all-time record lows for the second consecutive week.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased by 41 thousand to 410 thousand in the week ending November 17.
- The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment increased to 82.7 in November, from 82.6 in October.
- The Conference Board index of leading economic indicators increased 0.2% in October, while the coincident index increased 0.1%.
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Monday, November 19th, 2012
- Advance estimates of retail and food services sales for October were down 0.3% from September, but were up 3.8% from October 2011.
- Total manufacturing and trade sales for September were up 1.4% from August, while inventories were up 0.7%.
- Total Industrial production decreased 0.4% in October, following a 0.2% increase in the previous month.
- The federal government budget ran a deficit of $120.0 billion in October, after a surplus of $75.2 billion in the previous month.
- Treasury International Capital reported net foreign purchases of long-term securities of $17.9 billion in September, compared with net purchases of $78.5 billion in the previous month.
- The consumer price index increased 0.1% in October, while the core index increased 0.2%. The consumer price index increased 2.2% for the 12-month period ending in October, while the core index rose 2.0%.
- The producer price index for finished goods decreased 0.2% in October. The core index, which held steady in September, also decreased 0.2%. The producer price index for finished goods increased 2.3% from October 2011 to October 2012.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased by 78 thousand to 439 thousand in the week ending November 10.
- Real average hourly earnings for all employees decreased 0.2% from September to October.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed fixed mortgage rates dipping to new all-time record lows amid indicators of higher consumer confidence and lower wholesale prices.
- The November Empire State Manufacturing Survey indicated that manufacturing activity in New York State continued to decline for a fourth consecutive month.
- The Philadelphia FED business outlook survey for November reported declines in business activity following the disruptive effects of Hurricane Sandy on the region.
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Monday, November 12th, 2012
- In September international trade deficit was $41.5 billion, $2.3 billion less than the August figure.
- The import price index increased 0.5% in October, while the export price index held steady.
- Sales of merchant wholesalers in September were up 2.0% from August, while inventories were up 1.1%.
- September consumer credit outstanding increased at an annual rate of 5.0% to $2,737.2 billion.
- The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 3.40% for the week ending November 8, up from last week when it averaged 3.39%.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased by 8 thousand to 355 thousand in the week ending November 3.
- In October, the Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) survey results indicated growth in the non-manufacturing business activity for the 34th consecutive month.
- The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment, preliminary, increased to its highest level since July 2007.
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Monday, November 5th, 2012
- Total non-farm payroll employment rose 171 thousand to 133.755 million in October, following an increase of 148 thousand in the previous month. Private-sector payrolls increased 184 thousand in the month, while government employment decreased 13 thousand.
- The number of unemployed persons increased by 170 thousand to 12.258 million. The unemployment rate edged up to 7.9%, from 7.8% in the previous month.
- The average workweek of production and non-supervisory employees decreased 0.1 to 33.7 hours. Average hourly earnings decreased by a cent to $19.79, while average weekly earnings decreased by $2.32 to $664.94. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings were up 1.1%, while average weekly earnings were up 0.8%
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased by 9 thousand to 363 thousand in the week ending October 27.
- Third quarter productivity increased 1.9% (seasonally adjusted annual rate) in the non-farm business sector, the same increase as in the previous quarter. Unit labor costs decreased 0.1% in the third quarter, following a 1.7% increase in the previous quarter.
- The Employment Cost Index for total compensation rose 0.4%, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month period ending September 2012. Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 2.0% for the 12-month period ending September 2012.
- Sales of domestic cars decreased 1.8% in October, while total light vehicle (cars and light trucks) sales decreased 4.4%. Total sales were 14.230 million units in September, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, compared to 13.294 million in October of 2011.
- New orders for manufactured goods increased 4.8% in September, while shipments increased 0.9%.
- September construction spending increased 0.6%. Private construction increased 1.3%, while public construction decreased 0.8%.
- The S & P/Case-Shiller National U.S. Home Price Index posted annual increases of 1.3% and 2.0% in August, for the 10-city and 20-city composite indices, respectively.
- The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 3.39% for the week ending November 1, down from last week when it averaged 3.41%.
- The Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) manufacturing survey indicated that the manufacturing sector expanded in October for the second consecutive month following three months of slight contraction, and the overall economy grew for the 41st consecutive month.
- The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index, which had increased in September, improved again in October.
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