November 22nd, 2013
- Advance estimates of retail and food services sales for October were up 0.4% from the previous month, and were up 3.9% from October 2012.
- Total manufacturing and trade sales for September were up 0.2%, while inventories were up 0.6%.
- October existing home sales decreased 3.2% to an annualized rate of 5,120 thousand units, according to the National Association of Realtors. The October figure was 6.0% above the October 2012 figure. The median sales price of existing houses sold was $199.5 thousand, 12.8% above October 2012.
- The housing market index of National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Wells Fargo held steady at 54 in November.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of November 21st showed average fixed mortgage rates declining.
- 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 producer price index for finished goods decreased 0.2% in October, while the core index increased 0.2%. The producer price index for finished goods increased 0.3% from October 2012 to October 2013, while the intermediate goods index decreased 0.8%.
- The consumer price index decreased 0.1% in October, while the core index increased 0.1%. The consumer price index increased 1.0% for the 12-month period ending in October, while the core index rose 1.7%.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 21 thousand to 323 thousand in the week ending November 16.
- Real average hourly earnings for all employees rose 0.2% from September to October.
- The Employment Cost Index for total compensation rose 1.9% for the 12-month period ending September 2013. Wages & salaries increased 1.6%, while benefits increased 2.2%.
- The Philadelphia FED business outlook survey for November reported slower growth in manufacturing activity.
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November 16th, 2013
- Total Industrial production decreased 0.1% in October, after a 0.7% increase in the previous month. The rate of capacity utilization was 78.1%.
- Sales of merchant wholesalers in September were up 0.6%, while inventories were up 0.4%.
- In September, international trade deficit was $41.8 billion, $3.1 billion more than the revised August figure. The cumulative trade deficit for the first nine months was $359.5 billion, compared with a cumulative deficit of $407.3 billion during the first nine months of 2012.
- The federal government budget ran a surplus of $91.6 billion in October, after a surplus of $75.1 billion in the previous month.
- Third quarter productivity increased 1.9% (seasonally adjusted annual rate) in the non-farm business sector, while unit labor costs decreased 0.6%.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 2 thousand to 339 thousand in the week ending November 9.
- The import price index decreased 0.7% in October, while export prices decreased 0.5%. The import price index decreased 2.0% from October 2012, while export prices decreased 2.1%.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of November 14th showed average fixed mortgage rates moving higher for the second consecutive week.
- Mortgage applications decreased 1.8% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending November 8th.
- The November 2013 Empire State Manufacturing Survey indicated that conditions weakened for New York manufacturers.
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November 8th, 2013
- Real GDP increased at an annual rate of 2.8% in the third quarter of 2013, following an increase of 2.5% 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.
- Personal income increased 0.5%, in September, while personal consumption expenditures increased 0.2%. The price index for personal consumption expenditures (headline index) and the core index both were up 0.1% in September. The price index (headline index) was up 0.9% from September 2012, while the core index was up 1.2%.
- New orders for manufactured goods increased 1.7% in September, while shipments of increased 0.1%.
- Sales of domestic cars increased 1.2% in October, while total light vehicle sales decreased 0.3% in October. Total vehicle sales were 15.154 million units in October, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, compared to 14.330 million in October of 2012.
- Total non-farm payroll employment rose 204 thousand in October, following an increase of 163 thousand in the previous month.
- The unemployment rate edged up to 7.3% in October, from 7.2% in September.
- The average workweek of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls held steady at 34.4 hours. Average hourly earnings of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 2 cents. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings were up 2.2%.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 9 thousand to 336 thousand in the week ending November 2.
- September consumer credit outstanding increased at an annual rate of 5.4%.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of November 7th showed average fixed mortgage rates moving higher for the first time in three weeks.
- Mortgage applications decreased 7.0% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending November 1st.
- The Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) non-manufacturing survey results indicated growth in October.
- The Conference Board index of leading economic indicators increased 0.7% in September, while the coincident index increased 0.2%.
- The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment, preliminary, fell in November to its lowest level since December 2011.
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November 1st, 2013
- Advance estimates of retail and food services sales for September were down 0.1% from the previous month, but were up 3.2% from September 2012.
- Total manufacturing and trade sales for August were up 0.3% from the previous month, and were up 4.2% from August 2012. Total manufacturers’ and trade inventories for August were up 0.3% from the previous month, and were up 3.1% from August 2012.
- Total Industrial production increased 0.6% in September, after a 0.4% increase in the previous month. The rate of capacity utilization for total industry was 78.3%, 1.9 percentage points below its 1972-2012 average, but 1.1 percentage points above its level in September 2012.
- The federal government budget ran a surplus of $75.1 billion in September, after a deficit of $147.9 billion in the previous month. The budget surplus of $75.1 in September was $0.1 billion less than the surplus in September of 2012. The budget deficit for the fiscal year 2013 was $680.3 billion, $408.9 billion less than the deficit of $1,089.2 billion for the previous fiscal year.
- The S & P/Case-Shiller National U.S. Home Price Indices posted annual increases of 12.8% in the 12 months ending in August.
- The Pending Home Sales Index, a leading indicator for the housing sector, decreased 5.6% to a reading of 101.6 in September, according to the National Association of Realtors. This was the fourth consecutive monthly decrease.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of October 31st showed average fixed mortgage rates declining for the second consecutive week.
- Mortgage applications increased 6.4% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending October 25th.
- The producer price index for finished goods decreased 0.1% in September, following a 0.3% increase in the previous month. The core index, which held steady in August, increased 0.1% in September. The producer price index for finished goods increased 0.3% from September 2012 to September 2013.
- The consumer price index increased 0.2% in September, following a 0.1% increase in the previous month. The core index increased 0.1%, the same increase as in the previous month. The consumer price index increased 1.2% for the 12-month period ending in September, while the core index rose 1.7%.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 10 thousand to 340 thousand in the week ending October 26th.
- Real average hourly earnings for all employees were unchanged from August to September.
- The Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) manufacturing survey indicated that the manufacturing sector expanded in October for the fifth consecutive month.
- The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index, which had declined moderately in September, decreased sharply in October.
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October 26th, 2013
- Total non-farm payroll employment rose 148 thousand in September, following an increase of 193 thousand in the previous month. Private-sector payrolls increased by 126 thousand in the month, while government employment increased by 22 thousand.
- The unemployment rate decreased to 7.2% in September, from 7.3% in August.
- The average workweek of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls held steady at 34.5 hours.
- Average hourly earnings increased by 3 cents to $24.09 (up 2.1% from the previous year).
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 12 thousand to 356 thousand in the week ending October 19th.
- New orders for manufactured durable goods increased 3.7% in September, while shipments increased 0.2% in September.
- Sales of merchant wholesalers in August were up 0.6% from July, while inventories were up 0.5%.
- In August, international trade deficit was $38.8 billion, $0.2 billion more than the revised July figure.
- The import price index increased 0.2% in September, while export prices increased 0.3%. The import price index decreased 1.0% from September 2012, while export prices decreased 1.6%.
- Construction spending increased 0.6% in August. Private construction increased 0.7%, while public construction increased 0.4%.
- September existing home sales were down 1.9% from the previous month, but were up 10.7% from September 2012, according to the National Association of Realtors. The median sales price of existing houses sold was $199.2 thousand, 11.7% above September 2012.
- U.S. House prices rose 0.3% on a seasonally adjusted basis from July to August, following a 0.8% increase in the previous period, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) monthly House Price Index. For the 12 months ending in August, U.S. prices rose 8.5%. The index is 9.4% 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 October 24th showed average fixed mortgage rates hitting their lowest levels since this summer.
- Mortgage applications decreased 0.6% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending October 18th.
- The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment dropped to its lowest level since the end of last year.
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October 20th, 2013
- Due to government shutdown, there were only a few data releases.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 15 thousand to 358 thousand in the week ending October 12th.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of October 17th showed average fixed mortgage rates edging higher. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 4.28% for the week ending October 17, up from last week when it averaged 4.23%.
- Mortgage applications increased 0.3% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending October 11th.
- The October 2013 Empire State Manufacturing Survey indicated that business conditions held steady for New York manufacturers.
- The Philadelphia FED business outlook survey for October reported increased manufacturing activity.
- The FED’s “Beige Book” indicated that overall economic activity continued to expand at a modest to moderate pace during the reporting period of September through early October.
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October 11th, 2013
- Due to government shutdown, there were only a few data releases.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased 66 thousand to 374 thousand in the week ending October 5th.
- August consumer credit outstanding increased at an annual rate of 5.4% to $3,036.9 billion. Revolving credits decreased at an annual rate of 1.2%, while non-revolving credits increased 8.0%.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of October 10th showed average fixed mortgage rates changing little for the week. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 4.23%, up from last week when it averaged 4.22%.
- Mortgage applications increased 1.3% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending October 4th.
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October 4th, 2013
- Due to the lapse in government funding of official data sources, there were only a handful of releases during the week.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased a thousand to 308 thousand in the week ending September 28th.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of October 3rd showed average fixed mortgage decreasing for the third consecutive week. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 4.22% for the week ending October 3, down from last week when it averaged 4.32%.
- Mortgage applications increased 5.5% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending September 27th.
- The Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) manufacturing survey indicated that the manufacturing sector expanded in September for the fourth consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 52nd consecutive month.
- In September, the Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) non-manufacturing survey results indicated growth in the non-manufacturing business activity (exceeded 50.0%) for the 45th consecutive month.
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September 30th, 2013
- Real GDP increased at an annual rate of 2.5% in the second quarter of 2013 after increasing at 1.1% in the previous quarter. The price index for gross domestic purchases increased 0.2% in the second quarter, compared to an increase of 1.2% in the previous quarter.
- Corporate profits from current production increased $66.8 billion in the first quarter, after a decrease of $26.6 billion in the previous quarter.
- Personal income increased 0.4%, in August, while personal consumption expenditures increased 0.3%. Personal savings as percent of personal disposable income were 4.6% in August, up from 4.5% in the previous month.
- The price index for personal consumption expenditures (headline index) increased 0.1% in August, while the core index increased of 0.2%. Both indexes were up 1.2% from August 2012.
- New orders for manufactured durable goods increased 0.1% in August, while shipments increased 0.9% in August.
- August new home sales were up 7.9% from the previous month, and were up 12.6% from a year ago. The median sales price of new houses sold was $254.6 thousand, 0.6% above August 2012.
- U.S. House prices rose 1.0% on a seasonally adjusted basis from June to July, following a 0.7% increase in the previous period, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) monthly House Price Index. The July House Price Index change marks the eighteenth consecutive monthly price increase in the purchase-only, seasonally adjusted index. For the 12 months ending in July, U.S. prices rose 8.8%.
- The S & P/Case-Shiller National U.S. Home Price Index posted annual increases of 12.3% and 12.4% in the 12 months ending in July, for the 10-city and 20-city composite indices, respectively. As of July 2013, both composite indexes were back to their spring 2004 levels, and were about 21-22% below their June/July 2006 peaks.
- The Pending Home Sales Index, a leading indicator for the housing sector, decreased 1.6% to a reading of 107.7 in August, according to the National Association of Realtors.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of September 26th showed average fixed mortgage rates moving lower following the Federal Reserve announcement that it will maintain its bond buying stimulus.
- Mortgage applications increased 5.5% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending September 20th.
- Domestic non-financial debt rose at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.1% and reached $41,041.4 billion at the end of second quarter of 2013.
- The U.S. net international investment position was negative $4,504.1 billion at the end of the second quarter as the value of foreign investments in the United States exceeded the value of U.S. investments abroad.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 5 thousand to 305 thousand in the week ending September 21st.
- The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index, which had increased slightly in August, decreased slightly in September.
- The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment fell to its lowest level since early in the year.
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September 22nd, 2013
- Total Industrial production increased 0.4% in August, after holding steady in the previous month.
- The rate of capacity utilization for total industry was 77.8%, 2.4 percentage points below its 1972-2012 average, but 0.6 percentage point above its level in August 2012
- The current account deficit decreased to $98.9 billion in the second quarter, from $104.9 billion in the previous quarter.
- Housing starts increased 0.9% in August, while building permits decreased 3.8%.
- August existing home sales were up 1.7% from the previous month, and were up 13.2% from a year ago. The median sales price of existing houses sold was $212.1 thousand, 14.7% above August 2012.
- The housing market index of National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Wells Fargo held steady at 58 in September.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of September 19th showed average fixed mortgage rates moving lower.
- Mortgage applications increased 11.2% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending September 13th.
- The consumer price index increased 0.1% in August. The consumer price index increased 1.5% for the 12-month period ending in August.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased 15 thousand to 309 thousand in the week ending September 14th.
- Real average hourly earnings for all employees rose 0.1% in August.
- The September 2013 Empire State Manufacturing Survey indicated that the conditions for New York manufacturers improved modestly for the fourth consecutive month.
- The Philadelphia FED business outlook survey for September reported increased manufacturing activity.
- The Conference Board index of leading economic indicators increased 0.7% in August, while the coincident index increased 0.2%.
- The Federal Open Market Committee decided to keep its target for the federal funds rate at 0 to 0.25%, and to continue purchasing additional agency mortgage-backed securities at a pace of $40 billion per month and longer-term Treasury securities at a pace of $45 billion per month.
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