February 1st, 2014
- Real GDP increased at an annual rate of 3.2% in the fourth quarter of 2013, after increasing 4.1% in the previous quarter.
- The price index for gross domestic purchases increased 1.2% in the fourth quarter, compared to an increase of 1.8% in the previous quarter.
- Personal income increased less than 0.1%, in December, while personal consumption expenditures increased 0.4%.
- The price index for personal consumption expenditures increased 0.2% in December, while the core index, , increased 0.1%. The price index (headline index) was up 1.1% from December 2012, while the core index was up 1.2%
- New orders for manufactured durable goods decreased 4.3% in December, while shipments decreased 1.9% in December.
- December new home sales decreased 7.0% to an annualized rate of 414 thousand units. The median sales price of new houses sold was $270.2 thousand, 4.6% above December 2012.
- The Pending Home Sales Index, a leading indicator for the housing sector, decreased 8.7% in December, according to the National Association of Realtors.
- The S & P/Case-Shiller National U.S. Home Price Indices posted annual increases of 13.8% and 13.7% in the 12 months ending in November, for 10-city and 20-city composites, respectively.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of January 30th showed average fixed mortgage rates decreasing for the third consecutive week.
- Mortgage applications decreased 0.2% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending January 24th.
- 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, which had rebounded in December, increased again in January.
- The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment slipped in January.
- 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.
- The Federal Open Market Committee unanimously selected Janet L. Yellen to serve as its Chair, effective February 1, 2014.
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January 24th, 2014
- December existing home sales increased 1.0% to an annualized rate of 4,870 thousand units, according to the National Association of Realtors. The median sales price of existing houses sold was $198.0 thousand, 9.9% above December 2012.
- U.S. House prices increased 0.1% on a seasonally adjusted basis from October to November, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) monthly House Price Index. For the 12 months ending in November, U.S. prices rose 7.6%. The index is 8.9% below its April 2007 peak and is roughly the same as the April 2005 index level.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of January 23nd showed average fixed mortgage rates decreasing for the second consecutive week.
- Mortgage applications increased 4.7% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending January 17th.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased a thousand to 326 thousand in the week ending January 18.
- The Conference Board index of leading economic indicators increased 0.1% in December, while the coincident index increased 0.2%.
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January 17th, 2014
- Advance estimates of retail and food services sales for December were up 0.2% from the previous month, and were up 4.1% from December 2012. Retail and food services sales for the year 2013 were up 4.2% from the previous year.
- Total manufacturing and trade sales for November were up 0.8%, while inventories were up 0.4%.
- Total Industrial production increased 0.3% in December. The rate of capacity utilization for total industry was 79.2%. Total industrial production rose 2.6% in the year 2013.
- Housing starts decreased 9.8% in December, while building permits decreased 3.0%. The total number of starts for the year 2013 was up 18.3% from the previous year.
- The housing market index of National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Wells Fargo decreased a point to 56 in January.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of January 16th showed average fixed mortgage rates decreasing from the previous week.
- Mortgage applications increased 11.9% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending January 10th.
- The federal government budget ran a surplus of $53.2 billion in December, after a deficit of $135.2 billion in the previous month.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 2 thousand to 326 thousand in the week ending January 11.
- Real average hourly earnings for all employees decreased 0.3% from November to December.
- The consumer price index (headline index) rose 0.3% in December, while the core index increased 0.1%. The consumer price index increased 1.5% for the 12-month period ending in December, while the core index rose 1.7%.
- The producer price index for finished goods (headline index) increased 0.4% in December, while the core index increased 0.3%. The producer price index for finished goods increased 1.2% from December 2012 to December 2013, while the core index increased 1.4%
- The import price index held steady in December, while the export price index increased 0.4%.The import price index decreased 1.3% from December 2012, while export prices decreased 1.0%.
- The January 2014 Empire State Manufacturing Survey indicated that business activity expanded for New York manufacturers.
- The Philadelphia FED business outlook survey for January reported growth in manufacturing activity.
- The FED’s “Beige Book” indicated that overall economic activity continued to expand across most regions and sectors from late November through the end of the year.
- The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment, preliminary, decreased to 80.4 in early January.
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January 10th, 2014
- Total non-farm payroll employment increased 74 thousand in December, following an increase of 241 thousand in the previous month. Private-sector payrolls increased by 87 thousand in the month, while government employment decreased by 13 thousand.
- The number of unemployed persons decreased to 10.351 million. The unemployment rate decreased to 6.7% in December, from 7.0% in November. The unemployment rate was 7.9% in December of 2012.
- The average workweek of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls decreased 0.1 to 34.4 hours. Average hourly earnings increased by 2 cents to $24.17, while average weekly earnings decreased by $1.73 to $831.45. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings were up 1.8%, and average weekly earnings were up 1.5%.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 15 thousand to 330 thousand in the week ending January 4.
- Sales of domestic cars decreased 7.7% in December, while total light vehicle (cars and light trucks) sales decreased 6.2%. Total vehicle sales were 15.298 million units in December, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, compared to 16.306 million in the previous month, and 15.183 million in December of 2012.
- New orders for manufactured goods increased 1.8% in November, while shipments increased 1.0%.
- Sales of merchant wholesalers in November were up 1.0% from the previous month, while inventories were up 0.5%.
- In November, international trade deficit was $34.3 billion, $5.0 billion less than the revised October figure. The cumulative trade deficit for the first eleven months of 2013 was $435.1 billion, compared with a cumulative deficit of $496.3 billion during the first eleven months of 2012.
- November consumer credit outstanding increased at an annual rate of 4.8%. Revolving credits increased at an annual rate of 0.6%, while non-revolving credits increased 6.4%.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of January 9th showed average fixed mortgage rates little changed from the previous week.
- Mortgage applications increased 2.6% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending January 3rd.
- In December, the Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) non-manufacturing survey results indicated growth in the non-manufacturing business activity (exceeded 50.0%) for the 48th consecutive month.
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January 3rd, 2014
- Construction spending increased 1.0% in November, following a 0.9% decrease in the previous month. Private construction increased 2.2%, while public construction decreased 1.8%.
- The Pending Home Sales Index, a leading indicator for the housing sector, increased 0.2% in November, according to the National Association of Realtors.
- The S & P/Case-Shiller National U.S. Home Price Indices posted annual increases of 13.6% in the 12 months ending in October, for both 10-city and 20-city composites.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of January 2nd showed average fixed mortgage rates continuing to edge higher.
- Mortgage applications decreased 6.3% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending December 20th.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 2 thousand to 339 thousand in the week ending December 28.
- The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index, which had decreased in November, rebounded in December.
- The Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) manufacturing survey indicated that the manufacturing sector expanded in December for the seventh consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 55th consecutive month.
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December 27th, 2013
- New orders for manufactured durable goods increased 3.5% in November, while shipments increased 1.8%.
- November new home sales decreased 2.1% to an annualized rate of 464 thousand units. The November figure was 16.6% above the November 2012 figure. The median sales price of new houses sold was up 10.6% from a year ago.
- U.S. House prices rose 0.5% on a seasonally adjusted basis from September to October, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) monthly House Price Index. For the 12 months ending in October, U.S. prices rose 8.2%. The index is now 8.8% below its April 2007 peak and is roughly the same as the April 2005 index level.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of December 26th showed average fixed mortgage rates little changed from the previous week.
- Mortgage applications decreased 6.3% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending December 20th.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 42 thousand to 338 thousand in the week ending December 21.
- The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment jumped to 82.5 for December, the highest reading since July.
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December 23rd, 2013
- Real GDP increased at an annual rate of 4.1% in the third quarter of 2013, after increasing 2.5% in the previous quarter. Real final sales of domestic product (GDP less change in private inventories) increased 2.5%, compared with an increase of 2.1% in the previous quarter.
- The price index for gross domestic purchases increased 1.8% in the third quarter, compared to an increase of 0.2% in the previous quarter.
- Corporate profits from current production increased $39.2 billion in the third quarter, after an increase of $66.8 billion in the previous quarter.
- Personal income increased 0.2% in November, while personal consumption expenditures increased 0.5%. The price index for personal consumption expenditures held steady in November for the second consecutive month. The price index (headline index) was up 0.9% from November 2012, while the core index was up 1.1%.
- Total Industrial production increased 1.1% in November. The rate of capacity utilization for total industry was 79.0%.
- The current account deficit decreased to $94.8 billion in the third quarter, from $96.6 billion in the previous quarter.
- Treasury International Capital reported net foreign purchases of long-term securities of $54.7 billion in October, compared with net purchases of $63.0 billion in the previous month.
- Housing starts surged 22.7% in November, following a 1.8% increase in the previous month. The total number of starts was 1,091 thousand units, an increase of 29.6% from November 2012.
- November existing home sales decreased 4.3% to an annualized rate of 4,900 thousand units, according to the National Association of Realtors. The median sales price of existing houses sold was 9.4% above November 2012.
- The housing market index of National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Wells Fargo increased to 58 in December.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of December 19th showed average fixed mortgage rates rising slightly from the previous week
- Mortgage applications decreased 5.5% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending December 13th.
- Third quarter productivity increased 3.0% (seasonally adjusted annual rate) in the non-farm business sector, following a 1.8% increase in the previous period.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased 10 thousand to 379 thousand in the week ending December 14.
- Real average hourly earnings for all employees rose 0.2% from October to November.
- Regional and state unemployment rates were generally lower in November.
- The consumer price index (headline index) held steady in November, while the core index increased 0.2%. The consumer price index increased 1.2% for the 12-month period ending in November, while the core index rose 1.7%.
- The December 2013 Empire State Manufacturing Survey indicated that manufacturing conditions were flat for New York manufacturers.
- The Philadelphia FED business outlook survey for December reported growth in manufacturing activity.
- The Conference Board index of leading economic indicators increased 0.8% in November, while the coincident index increased 0.4%.
- The Federal Open Market Committee decided to keep its target for the federal funds rate at 0 to 0.25%, and decided to modestly reduce the pace of its asset purchases.
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December 13th, 2013
- Advance estimates of retail and food services sales for November were up 0.7% from the previous month, and were up 4.7% from November 2012.
- Total manufacturing and trade sales for October were up 0.5%, while inventories were up 0.7%.
- Sales of merchant wholesalers in October were up 1.0%, while inventories were up 1.4%.
- The federal government budget ran a deficit of $135.2 billion in November, after a deficit of $91.6 billion in the previous month.
- Domestic non-financial debt rose at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.5% in the third quarter, following an increase of 3.4% in the previous quarter.
- The producer price index for finished goods (headline index) decreased 0.1% in November, while the core index increased 0.1%. The producer price index for finished goods increased 0.7% from November 2012 to November 2013.
- The import price index decreased 0.6% in November, while export prices increased 0.1%. The import price index decreased 1.5% from November 2012, while the price index for exports decreased 1.6%.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased 68 thousand to 368 thousand in the week ending December 7.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of December 12th showed average fixed mortgage rates changing little from the previous week.
- Mortgage applications increased 1.0% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending December 6th.
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December 7th, 2013
- Total non-farm payroll employment rose 203 thousand in November, following an increase of 200 thousand in the previous month.
- The unemployment rate decreased to 7.0% in November.
- The average workweek of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased 0.1 to 34.5 hours. Average hourly earnings increased by 4 cents to $24.15.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 23 thousand to 298 thousand in the week ending November 30.
- Real GDP increased at an annual rate of 3.6% in the third quarter of 2013. In the advance estimate, released a month ago, the increase in real GDP was 2.8%.
- The price index for gross domestic purchases increased 1.8% in the third quarter, compared to an increase of 0.2% in the previous quarter.
- Corporate profits from current production increased $38.3 billion in the third quarter, after an increase of $66.8 billion in the previous quarter.
- Personal income decreased 0.1%, in October, while personal consumption expenditures increased 0.3%.
- The price index for personal consumption expenditures held steady in October, while the core index increased 0.1%. The price index (headline index) was up 0.7% from October 2012, while the core index was up 1.1%.
- New orders for manufactured goods decreased 0.9% in October, while shipments increased 0.1%.
- Sales of domestic cars increased 5.3% in November, while total light vehicle (cars and light trucks) sales increased 7.7%. Total vehicle sales were 16.3 million units in November, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, compared to 15.3 million a year ago.
- In October, international trade deficit was $40.6 billion, $2.4 billion less than the revised September figure.
- Construction spending increased 0.8% in October, following a 0.3% decrease in the previous month.
- October new home sales increased 25.4%. The median sales price of new houses sold was 0.6% below October 2012
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of December 5th showed average fixed mortgage rates increasing.
- Mortgage applications decreased 12.8% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending November 29th.
- October consumer credit outstanding increased at an annual rate of 7.1%.
- The Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) manufacturing survey indicated that the manufacturing sector expanded in November for the sixth consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 54th consecutive month.
- In November, the Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) non-manufacturing survey results indicated growth in the non-manufacturing business activity for the 47th consecutive month.
- The FED’s “Beige Book” indicated that overall economic activity continued to expand at a modest to moderate pace from early October through mid-November.
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November 29th, 2013
- New orders for manufactured durable goods decreased 2.0% in October, while shipments increased 0.2%.
- Housing starts decreased 0.9%, revised, in August. The U.S. Census Bureau indicated that accurate data collection for September and October could not be completed in time due to lapse in federal funding.
- Building permits in October were up 6.2% from September, and were up 13.9% from October 2012.
- The Pending Home Sales Index decreased 0.6% in October, according to the National Association of Realtors.
- U.S. House prices rose 0.3% on a seasonally adjusted basis from August to September, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) monthly House Price Index. For the 12 months ending in September, U.S. prices rose 8.5%.
- The S & P/Case-Shiller National U.S. Home Price Indices posted annual increases of 13.3% in the 12 months ending in September.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of November 27th showed average fixed mortgage rates increasing slightly.
- 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 advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 10 thousand to 316 thousand in the week ending November 23.
- The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index, which had decreased sharply in October, declined again in November.
- The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment rose in November.
- The Conference Board’s leading and coincident indexes increased 0.2% in October.
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