Key Economic Indicators – November 25, 2013

  • Advance estimates of retail and food services sales for October were up 0.4% from the previous month, and were up 3.9% from October 2012.
  • Total manufacturing and trade sales for September were up 0.2%, while inventories were up 0.6%.
  • October existing home sales decreased 3.2% to an annualized rate of 5,120 thousand units,  according to the National Association of Realtors. The October figure was 6.0% above the October 2012 figure. The median sales price of existing houses sold was $199.5 thousand, 12.8% above October 2012.
  • The housing market index of National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Wells Fargo held steady at 54 in November.
  • The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of November 21st showed average fixed mortgage rates declining.
  • Mortgage applications decreased 2.3% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending  November 15th.
  • The producer price index for finished goods decreased 0.2% in October, while the core index increased 0.2%. The producer price index for finished goods increased 0.3% from October 2012 to October 2013, while the intermediate goods index decreased 0.8%.
  • The consumer price index decreased 0.1% in October, while the core index increased 0.1%. The consumer price index increased 1.0% for the 12-month period ending in October, while the core index rose 1.7%.
  • The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 21 thousand to 323 thousand in the week ending November 16.
  • Real average hourly earnings for all employees rose 0.2% from September to October.
  • The Employment Cost Index for total compensation rose 1.9% for the 12-month period ending September 2013. Wages & salaries increased 1.6%, while benefits increased 2.2%.
  • The Philadelphia FED business outlook survey for November reported slower growth in manufacturing activity.

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