April 14th, 2014
- The federal government budget ran a deficit of $36.9 billion in March, after a deficit of $193.5 billion in the previous month.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 32 thousand to 300 thousand in the week ending April 5.
- The producer price index for final demand (headline index) increased 0.5% in March, while the core index increased 0.6%. The producer price index for final demand increased 1.4% from March 2013.
- The import price index rose 0.6% in March, while the export price index increased 0.8%. The import price index decreased 0.6% from March 2013, while export prices increased 0.2%.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of March 27th showed average fixed mortgage rates up a bit from last week.
- Mortgage applications decreased 1.6% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending April 4th.
Posted in Key Economic Indicators | No Comments »
April 7th, 2014
- Total non-farm payroll employment increased 192 thousand in March, following an increase of 197 thousand in the previous month. Private-sector payrolls increased by 192 thousand in the month, while government employment was unchanged.
- The unemployment rate held steady at 6.7%.
- The average workweek of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased 0.3 to 34.5 hours. Average hourly earnings were unchanged.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased 6 thousand to 326 thousand in the week ending March 29.
- Sales of domestic vehicles increased 7.1%, while total vehicle sales increased 6.9%.
- In February, international trade deficit was $42.3 billion, compared with a deficit of $39.3 billion in January.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of April 3rd showed average fixed mortgage rates little changed from the previous week.
- 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 April 2nd.
- In March, the Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) manufacturing survey results indicated growth in activity.
Posted in Key Economic Indicators | No Comments »
March 30th, 2014
- Real GDP increased at an annual rate of 2.6% in the fourth quarter of 2013, after increasing 4.1% in the previous quarter. Real GDP increased 1.9% in the year 2013, compared with an increase of 2.8% in 2012.
- The price index for gross domestic purchases increased 1.5% in the fourth quarter, compared to an increase of 1.8% in the previous quarter. The price index increased 1.2% in the year 2013, compared to an increase of 1.7% in 2012.
- Profits from current production increased $74.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2013, compared with an increase of $39.2 billion in the third quarter. Profits from current production increased $92.6 billion in the year 2013, compared with an increase of $131.8 billion in 2012.
- Both personal income and personal consumption expenditures increased 0.3%, in February.
- The price index for personal consumption expenditures increased 0.1% in February. The price index (headline index) was up 0.9% from February 2013, while the core index was up 1.1%
- New orders for manufactured durable goods increased 2.2% in February.
- February new home sales decreased to an annualized rate of 440 thousand units. The median sales price of new houses sold was $261.8 thousand, 1.2% below February 2013.
- The Pending Home Sales Index, a leading indicator for the housing sector, decreased 0.8% in February to 93.9, according to the National Association of Realtors.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of March 27th showed average fixed mortgage rates up a bit from last week.
- Mortgage applications decreased 3.5% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending March 26th.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased 19 thousand to 348 thousand in the week ending January 25.
- The Employment Cost Index for total compensation rose 0.5%, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month period ending December 2013.
- Regional and state unemployment rates were generally lower in December.
- The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index rose to 82.3 in March.
- The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment edged up to 80.0 March.
Posted in Key Economic Indicators | No Comments »
March 23rd, 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.
Posted in Key Economic Indicators | No Comments »
March 17th, 2014
- Advance estimates of retail and food services sales for February increased 0.3%, following a 0.6% decrease in the previous month.
- Total manufacturing and trade sales for January decreased 0.8%, while inventories increased 0.4%.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of March 13th showed average fixed mortgage rates edging up.
- Mortgage applications decreased 2.1% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending March 7th.
- The federal government budget ran a deficit of $193.5 billion in February, after a deficit of $10.4 billion in the previous month.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 9 thousand to 315 thousand in the week ending March 8.
- The producer price index for final demand (headline index) decreased 0.1% in February, while the core index decreased 0.2%. The producer price index for final demand increased 0.9% from February 2013, while the core index increased 1.1%
- The import price index increased 0.9% in February, while the export price index increased 0.6%. The import price index decreased 1.1% from February 2013, while export prices decreased 1.3%.
- The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment, preliminary, decreased to 79.9 in early March.
Posted in Key Economic Indicators | No Comments »
March 10th, 2014
- Total non-farm payroll employment increased 175 thousand in February, following an increase of 129 thousand in the previous month. Private-sector payrolls increased by 162 thousand in the month, while government employment increased by 13 thousand.
- The unemployment rate increased to 6.7% in February, from 6.6% in January.
- The average workweek of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls decreased 0.1 to 34.2 hours. Average hourly earnings increased 0.4%.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 26 thousand to 323 thousand in the week ending March 1.
- In January, international trade deficit was $39.1 billion, $0.1 billion more than the revised December figure.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of March 6th showed average fixed mortgage rates moving down.
- Mortgage applications increased 9.4% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending March 5th.
Posted in Key Economic Indicators | No Comments »
March 2nd, 2014
- Real GDP increased at an annual rate of 2.4% in the fourth quarter of 2013, after increasing 4.1% in the previous quarter.
- The price index for gross domestic purchases increased 1.5% in the fourth quarter, compared to an increase of 1.8% in the previous quarter.
- Personal income increased 0.3%, in January, while personal consumption expenditures increased 0.4%.
- The price index for personal consumption expenditures increased 0.1% in January. The price index (headline index) was up 1.2% from January 2013, while the core index was up 1.1%
- New orders for manufactured durable goods decreased 1.0% in January.
- January new home sales increased 9.6% to an annualized rate of 468 thousand units.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of February 28th showed average fixed mortgage rates moving higher.
- Mortgage applications decreased 8.5% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending February 21.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased 14 thousand to 348 thousand in the week ending February 22.
- The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index decreased again in February.
- The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment edged up in February.
Posted in Key Economic Indicators | No Comments »
February 23rd, 2014
- December existing home sales decreased 5.1% to an annualized rate of 4,620 thousand units, according to the National Association of Realtors. The median sales price of existing houses sold was $188.9 thousand, 10.7% above January 2013.
- Housing starts decreased 16.0% to an annualized rate of 880 thousand in January.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of February 20th showed average fixed mortgage rates up slightly for the second week.
- 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 February 14th.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 3 thousand to 336 thousand in the week ending February 15.
- The producer price index for final demand rose 0.2% in January, following a 0.1% increase in the previous month. The price index rose 1.2% from January 2013.
- The consumer price index rose 0.1% in January, following a 0.3% increase in the previous month. The price index rose 1.6% from January 2013.
- The Empire State manufacturing index indicated slight improvement in manufacturing activity.
- The Philadelphia FED’s manufacturing index indicated a decline in manufacturing activity.
- The Conference Board index of leading economic indicators increased 0.3% in January, while the coincident index increased 0.1%.
Posted in Key Economic Indicators | No Comments »
February 16th, 2014
- Advance estimates of retail and food services sales for January were down 0.4% from the previous month. Excluding autos, retail and food services sales held steady in January.
- Total manufacturing and trade sales for December were up 0.1%, while inventories were up 0.5%.
- Total Industrial production decreased 0.3% in January, following a 0.3% increase in the previous month. The rate of capacity utilization for total industry was 78.5%, compared with 78.9% in the previous month.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of February 13th showed average fixed mortgage rates largely unchanged.
- Mortgage applications decreased 2.0% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending February 7th.
- The federal government budget ran a deficit of $10.4 billion in January, after a surplus of $53.2 billion in the previous month.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased 8 thousand to 339 thousand in the week ending February 8.
- The import price index held increased 0.1% in January, while the export price index increased 0.2%.The import price index decreased 1.5% from January 2013, while export prices decreased 1.2%.
- The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment, preliminary, held steady at 81.2 in early February.
Posted in Key Economic Indicators | No Comments »
February 10th, 2014
- Total non-farm payroll employment increased 113 thousand in January, following an increase of 75 thousand in the previous month. Private-sector payrolls increased by 142 thousand in the month, while government employment decreased by 29 thousand.
- The unemployment rate decreased to 6.6% in January, from 6.7% in the previous month.
- The average workweek of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls held steady at 34.4 hours. Average hourly earnings increased by 0.2%.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 20 thousand to 331 thousand in the week ending February 1.
- Sales of domestic vehicles increased to an annualized rate of 12.1 million, while total vehicle sales decreased to 15.2 million.
- In December, international trade deficit was $38.7 billion, compared with a deficit of $34.6 billion in the previous month.
- December consumer credit surged to $18.8 billion.
- Construction spending rose 0.1% in December, following a 0.8% in the previous month. Total construction spending was up 5.3% from a year ago.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of February 6th showed average fixed mortgage rates moving lower.
- Mortgage applications increased 0.4% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending January 31.
Posted in Key Economic Indicators | No Comments »
