Archive for September, 2014
Friday, September 26th, 2014
- Real GDP increased at an annual rate of 4.6% in the second quarter, according to the “third” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the first quarter, real GDP decreased 2.1%. In the second estimate, released a month ago, the increase in real GDP was 4.2%.
- The price index for gross domestic purchases increased 2.0% in the second quarter, compared to an increase of 1.4% in the previous quarter.
- Real final sales of domestic product (GDP less change in private inventories) increased 3.2% in the second quarter, following a decrease of 1.0% in the first quarter.
- Profits from current production increased $164.1 billion in the second quarter, in contrast to a decrease of $201.7 billion in the first quarter.
- New orders for manufactured durable goods decreased 18.2% in August, while shipments decreased 1.5%. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.7%, while shipments increased 0.1%. Year to date, new orders were up 8.1% from a year ago, while shipments were up 4.9%.
- August existing home sales decreased 1.8% to an annualized rate of 5,050 thousand units, according to the National Association of Realtors. August sales were down 5.3% from a year ago. The median sales price of existing houses sold was $219.8 thousand, up 4.8% from August 2013.
- August new home sales were up 18.0% from the previous month, and were up 33.0% from August 2013. The median sales price of new houses sold was $275.6 thousand, 8.0% above a year ago.
- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) purchase-only seasonally adjusted house price index rose 0.1% in July, following a 0.3% increase in the previous month. This was the eighth consecutive quarterly price increase. The index was up 4.4% from July of 2013. The index is 6.4% below its April 2007 peak and is roughly the same as the July 2005 level.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of September 25th showed average fixed mortgage rates easing slightly from the previous week. 30-year fixed rate mortgage averaged 4.20% for the week ending September 25th, down from last week when it averaged 4.23%.
- Mortgage applications decreased 4.1% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending September 19th.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased 12 thousand to 293 thousand in the week ending September 20. The 4-week moving average was 298.5 thousand, a decrease of 1.25 thousand from the previous week’s revised average.
- The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment was 84.6 in September, up from 82.5 in August.
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Saturday, September 20th, 2014
- Total Industrial production decreased 0.1% in August, following a 0.2% increase in the previous month. The rate of capacity utilization for total industry was 78.8%, compared with 79.1% in the previous month.
- The current account deficit decreased to $98.5 billion in the second quarter, from $102.1 billion in the previous quarter.
- Housing starts decreased 14.4% to an annualized rate of 956 thousand in August, while building permits decreased 5.6%.
- The housing market index of National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Wells Fargo increased to 59 in September.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of September 18th showed average fixed mortgage rates making their biggest one-week gain so far this year.
- Mortgage applications increased 7.9% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending September 12th.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 36 thousand to 280 thousand in the week ending September 13.
- Real average hourly earnings for all employees rose 0.4% in August, after holding steady in the previous month.
- In August, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 35 states and decreased in 15 states and the District of Columbia. Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate increases from July, 15 states had decreases, and 11 states had no change.
- The producer price index for final demand held steady in August, following a 0.1% increase in the previous month. The price index rose 1.8% from August 2013.
- The consumer price index decreased 0.2% in August, following a 0.1% increase in the previous month. The price index rose 1.7% from August 2013. The core index, all items excluding food and energy, held steady in August, following a 0.1% increase in the previous month. The core index was up 1.7% from a year ago.
- The Empire State manufacturing index indicated significant expansion in September.
- The Philadelphia FED’s manufacturing index indicated continued growth in manufacturing activity.
- The Conference Board index of leading economic indicators increased 0.2% in August, following a 1.1% increase in the previous month. The coincident index increased 0.2%, following a 0.1% increase in July.
- The Federal Open Market Committee decided to keep its target for the federal funds rate at 0 to 0.25% and to make a further measured reduction in the pace of its asset purchases.
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Monday, September 15th, 2014
- Advance estimates of retail and food services sales for August were up 0.6% from the previous month, and were up 5.0% from August 2013. Excluding autos, retail and food services sales were up 0.3% in August.
- Total inventories of merchant wholesalers were up 0.1% in July, while sales were up 0.7%.
- Total manufacturing and trade sales for July were up 0.8%, while inventories were up 0.4%.
- In July, consumer credit increased at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 9.75%. Revolving credit increased 7.5%, while non-revolving credit increased 10.5%.
- The federal government budget ran a deficit of $128.7 billion in August, after a deficit of $94.6 billion in the previous month.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased 11 thousand to 315 thousand in the week ending September 6.
- The import price index decreased 0.9% in August, while the export price index decreased 0.5%. The import price index decreased 0.4% from August 2013, while export prices increased 0.4%.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of September 11th showed average fixed mortgage rates moving slightly upward.
- Mortgage applications decreased 7.2% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending September 5th.
- The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment, preliminary, rose to 84.6 in early September.
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Monday, September 8th, 2014
- Total non-farm payroll employment rose 142 thousand in August, following an increase of 212 thousand in the previous month. Private-sector payrolls increased by 134 thousand in the month, while government employment increased by 8 thousand.
- The unemployment rate decreased to 6.1% in August, from 6.2% in July.
- The average workweek of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls held steady at 34.5 hours. Average hourly earnings increased by 6 cents to $24.53.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased 4 thousand to 302 thousand in the week ending August 30.
- Second quarter productivity increased 2.3% (seasonally adjusted annual rate) in the non-farm business sector, following a 4.5% decrease in the previous period.
- New orders for manufactured goods increased 10.5% in July, while shipments increased 1.2%.
- Sales of domestic cars increased 7.8% in August, while total light vehicle (cars and light trucks) sales increased 6.4%. Total vehicle sales were 17.4 million units in August, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, compared to 15.9 million a year ago.
- In July, international trade deficit was $40.5 billion, $0.3 billion less than the revised June figure.
- In July, construction spending was up 1.8% from the previous month, and was up 8.2% from a year ago.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of August 28th showed average fixed mortgage rates largely unchanged.
- Mortgage applications increased 0.2% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending August 29th.
- The Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) manufacturing survey indicated that the manufacturing sector expanded in August for the 15th consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 63rd consecutive month.
- In August, the Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) non-manufacturing survey results indicated growth in the non-manufacturing business activity for the 55th consecutive month.
- The FED’s “Beige Book” indicated that overall economic activity has expanded since the previous report.
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Monday, September 1st, 2014
- Real GDP increased at an annual rate of 4.2% in the second quarter, according to the “second” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the first quarter, real GDP decreased 2.1%. In the advance estimate, released a month ago, the increase in real GDP was 4.0%.
- The price index for gross domestic purchases increased 1.9% in the second quarter, compared to an increase of 1.4% in the previous quarter.
- Real final sales of domestic product (GDP less change in private inventories) increased 2.8% in the second quarter, following a decrease of 1.0% in the first quarter.
- Profits from current production increased $154.9 billion in the second quarter, in contrast to a decrease of $201.7 billion in the first quarter.
- Personal income increased 0.2%, in July, while personal consumption expenditures decreased 0.1%. Real disposable personal income increased 0.1% in July, while real personal consumption expenditures decreased 0.2%
- The price index for personal consumption expenditures increased 0.1% in July. The core index, excluding food and energy, was also up 0.1% from the previous month. The price index (headline index) was up 1.6% from July 2013, while the core index was up 1.5%
- New orders for manufactured durable goods increased 22.6% in July, while shipments increased 3.3%. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.8%, while shipments increased 1.4%. Year to date, new orders were up 8.2% from a year ago, while shipments were up 4.8%.
- July new home sales were down 2.4% from the previous month, but were up 12.3% from July 2013. The median sales price of new houses sold was $269.8 thousand, 2.9% above a year ago.
- The Pending Home Sales Index, a leading indicator for the housing sector, increased 3.3% to 105.9 in July, according to the National Association of Realtors.
- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) purchase-only seasonally adjusted house price index rose 0.8% in the second quarter. This was the twelfth consecutive quarterly price increase. The index was up 5.2% from the second quarter of 2013.
- The S & P/Case-Shiller National U.S. Home Price Indices showed a sustained slowdown in price increases. The National Index posted an annual increase of 6.2% in the 12 months ending in June, while the 20-city Composite Index rose 8.1%.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of August 28th showed average fixed mortgage rates largely unchanged. 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.10%, unchanged from the previous week.
- Mortgage applications increased 2.8% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending August 22nd.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased a thousand to 298 thousand in the week ending August 23. The 4-week moving average was 299.750 thousand, a decrease of 1.250 thousand from the previous week’s revised average.
- The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index, which had increased in July, improved further in August.
- The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment was up in August.
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