Archive for October, 2016
Sunday, October 30th, 2016
- Real GDP increased at an annual rate of 2.9% in the third quarter of 2016, after increasing 1.4% in the previous quarter, according to the “advance” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
- Real final sales of domestic product increased 2.3%, following a 2.6% increase in the previous quarter.
- The price index for gross domestic purchases increased 1.6% in the third quarter, compared to an increase of 2.1% in the previous quarter.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance was 258 thousand in the week ending October 22, a decrease of 3 thousand from the previous week’s revised level. The 4-week moving average was 253 thousand, an increase of a thousand from the previous week’s revised average.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed mortgage rates slipping from last week’s spike. 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.47% for the week ending October 27th, down from last week when it averaged 3.52%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.76%.
- 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 October 21st.
- The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment decreased to 87.2 in October, from 91.2 in September.
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Sunday, October 23rd, 2016
- Total Industrial production, which decreased 0.5% in August, increased 0.1% in September. Total industrial production in September was 1.0% below its level a year earlier. The rate of capacity utilization increased 0.1 percentage point to 75.4%, 4.6 percentage points below its 1972-2015 average.
- Existing home sales increased 3.2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.47 million in September, from 5.30 million in August, according to the National Association of Realtors. The median existing home price in September was $234.2 thousand, up 5.6% from September 2015. This was the 55th consecutive month of year-over-year gains. Total housing inventory at the end of September increased 1.5% from the previous month, but decreased 6.8% from a year ago, to 2.04 million. Unsold inventory was at a 4.5-month supply at the current sales pace, down from 4.6 months in August. Properties typically stayed on the market for 39 days in September, up from 36 days in August, but down from 49 days in September of 2015.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed mortgage rates moving higher. 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.52% for the week ending October 20, up from last week when it averaged 3.47%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.79%.
- Mortgage applications increased 0.6% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending October 14th.
- The consumer price index increased 0.3% in September, following a 0.2% increase in the previous month. The core index increased 0.1%, following a 0.3% increase as in the previous month. The consumer price index increased 1.5% for the 12-month period ending in September, while the core index rose 2.2%.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance was 260 thousand in the week ending October 15, an increase of 13 thousand from the previous week’s revised level. The 4-week moving average was 251.75 thousand, an increase of 2.25 thousand from the previous week’s revised average.
- The October 2016 Empire State Manufacturing Survey indicated that business activity continued to decline for New York manufacturers. The headline index decreased to negative 6.8 in October, from negative 2.0 in September.
- The Philadelphia FED business outlook survey indicated that regional manufacturing activity continued to improve in October. The headline index was 9.7 in October, compared with 12.8 in September.
- Reports from the twelve Federal Reserve Districts suggest national economic activity continued to expand during the reporting period from late August to early October, according to the “Beige Book”.
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Sunday, October 16th, 2016
- Advance estimates of retail and food services sales for September were up 0.6%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Excluding motor vehicle & parts, retail sales were up 0.5%.
- Total manufacturing and trade sales and inventories for August were both up 0.2%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The total business inventories/sales ratio was 1.39 for the third month.
- The producer price index for total final demand, which was unchanged in August, increased 0.3% in September. The index for final demand goods less foods and energy increased 0.3%, following an increase of 0.1% in the previous month. The producer price index for final demand increased 0.7% from September 2015 to September 2016.
- The import price index increased 0.1% in September, while the export price index increased 0.3%. The import price index decreased 1.1% from September 2015 to September 2016, while the price index for exports decreased 1.5%.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance was 246 thousand in the week ending October 8, unchanged from the previous week’s revised level. The 4-week moving average was 249.25 thousand, a decrease of 3.5 thousand from the previous week’s revised average.
- Mortgage applications decreased 6.0% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending October 7th.
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Sunday, October 9th, 2016
- Total non-farm payroll employment increased 156 thousand in September, following an increase of 167 thousand in the previous month, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- The unemployment rate edged up to 5.0% in September, from 4.9% in August.
- The average workweek of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 0.1 to 34.4 hours. Average hourly earnings increased by 6 cents to $25.79.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance was 249 thousand in the week ending October 1, a decrease of 5 thousand from the previous week’s level. The 4-week moving average was 253.5 thousand, a decrease of 2.5 thousand from the previous week’s average.
- New orders increased 0.2% in August, following a 1.4% increase in the previous month.
- The International trade deficit was $40.7 billion in August, compared with a deficit of $39.5 billion in the previous month.
- Construction spending for August was down 0.7% from the previous month, and was down 0.3% from a year ago.
- Mortgage applications increased 2.9% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending September 30th.
- The ISM manufacturing index increased to 51.5 in September, from 49.4 in August.
- The ISM non-manufacturing index increased to 57.1 in September, from 51.4 in August.
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Sunday, October 2nd, 2016
- Real GDP increased at an annual rate of 1.4% in the second quarter, according to the “third” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the first quarter, real GDP increased 0.8%.
- Real domestic income (GDI) decreased 0.2% in the second quarter, following a 0.8% increase in the first quarter.
- The price index for gross domestic purchases increased 2.1% in the second quarter, following a 0.2% increase in the first quarter.
- Personal income increased 0.2% in August, while personal consumption expenditures held steady. Real disposable personal income increased 0.1%, while real personal consumption expenditures decreased 0.1%.
- The price index for personal consumption expenditures increased 0.1% in August, while the core index increased 0.2%. The price index (headline index) was up 1.0% from August 2015, while the core index was up 1.7%.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance was 254 thousand in the week ending September 24, an increase of 3 thousand from the previous week’s revised level. The 4-week moving average was 256 thousand, a decrease of 2.25 thousand from the previous week’s revised average.
- Mortgage applications decreased 0.7% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending September 23rd.
- The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment rose to 91.2 in early September.
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