Key Economic Indicators – March 24, 2014

  • Industrial production increased 0.6% in February, following a 0.2% decrease in the previous month. Capacity utilization increased to 78.8%, from 78.5%.
  • February existing home sales decreased 0.4% to an annualized rate of 4,600 thousand units, according to the National Association of Realtors. The median sales price of existing houses sold was $189.0 thousand, 9.1% above February 2013.
  • Housing starts decreased 0.2% to 907 thousand in February, while building permits rose 7.7% to 1,018 thousand.
  • The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of March 20th showed average fixed mortgage rates moving down slightly.
  • Mortgage applications decreased 1.2% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending March 14th.
  • The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased 5 thousand to 320 thousand in the week ending March 15.
  • Consumer prices in February were up 0.1% from the previous month, and were up 1.1% from a year ago.

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