July 5th, 2013
- Total non-farm payroll employment rose 195 thousand to 135.902 million in June, in line with the average monthly gain of 182 thousand over the prior 12 months.
- The unemployment rate was unchanged at 7.6%.
- The average workweek of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls was unchanged at 34.5 hours. Average hourly earnings increased by 10 cents to $24.01. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings were up 2.2%.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 5 thousand to 343 thousand in the week ending June 29th.
- Sales of domestic cars increased 8.0% in June, while total light vehicle (cars and light trucks) sales increased 4.3% Total vehicle sales were 15.890 million units in June, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, compared to 14.334 million in June of last year.
- New orders for manufactured goods increased 2.1% in May, while shipments increased 1.0%.
- In May international trade deficit was $45.0 billion, $4.9 billion more than the revised April figure.
- Construction spending increased 0.5% in May. Private construction held steady, while public construction increased 1.8%.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of July 3rd showed average fixed mortgage rates reversing course after last week’s big jump that took rates to their highest levels since mid-2011.
- Mortgage applications decreased 11.7% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending June 28th.
- The Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) manufacturing survey indicated that the manufacturing sector expanded in June following one month of contraction, and the overall economy grew for the 49th consecutive month.
- In June, the Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) non-manufacturing survey results indicated growth for the 42nd consecutive month.
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June 29th, 2013
- Real GDP increased at an annual rate of 1.8% in the first quarter of 2013, according to the “third” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, after increasing at 0.4% in the previous quarter. In the “second” estimate, released a month ago, real GDP increased 2.4%.
- The price index for gross domestic purchases increased 1.2% in the first quarter, compared to an increase of 1.6% in the previous quarter.
- Corporate profits from current production decreased $28.0 billion in the first quarter, after an increase of $45.4 billion in the previous quarter.
- Personal income increased 0.5%, in May, while personal consumption expenditures increased 0.3%. Personal savings as percent of personal disposable income were 3.2% in May, compared with 3.0% in the previous month.
- The price index for personal consumption expenditures increased 0.1% in May. The price index (headline index) was up 1.0% from May 2012, while the core index was up 1.1%.
- New orders for manufactured durable goods increased 3.6% in May, while shipments increased 1.2%.
- May new home sales increased 2.1% to an annualized rate of 476 thousand units. The median sales price of new houses sold was $263.9 thousand, 10.3% above May 2012.
- U.S. House prices rose 0.7% on a seasonally adjusted basis from March to April, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) monthly House Price Index. For the 12 months ending in April, U.S. house prices rose 7.4%.
- The S & P/Case-Shiller National U.S. Home Price Index posted annual increases of 11.6% and 12.1% in the 12 months ending in April, for the 10-city and 20-city composite indices, respectively. As of April 2013, both composite indexes were back to their early 2004 levels, and were about 26-27% below their June/July 2006 peaks.
- The Pending Home Sales Index, a leading indicator for the housing sector, increased 6.7% to a reading of 112.3 in May, its highest level since late 2006, according to the National Association of Realtors.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of June 27th showed average fixed mortgage rates jumping to their highest levels since the week of July 28, 2011. The increase for the 30-year fixed mortgage rate was the largest weekly increase since the week ended April 17, 1987.
- Mortgage applications decreased 3.0% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending June 21st.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 9 thousand to 346 thousand in the week ending June 22nd.
- The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index, which had improved in May, increased again in June.
- The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment edged down to 84.1 in June, from 84.5 in May, its highest level in nearly six years.
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June 24th, 2013
- Housing starts increased 6.8% in May, following a 14.8% decrease in the previous month..
- May existing home sales increased 4.2% to an annualized rate of 5,180 thousand units. The median sales price of existing houses sold was $208.0 thousand, 15.4% above May 2012.
- The housing market index of National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Wells Fargo increased 8 points to 52 in June.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of June 20th showed average fixed mortgage rates moving slightly lower.
- Mortgage applications decreased 3.3% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending June 14th.
- The consumer price index increased 0.1% in May, while the core index increased 0.2%. The consumer price index increased 1.4% for the 12-month period ending in May, while the core index rose 1.7%.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased 18 thousand to 354 thousand in the week ending June 15th.
- Real average hourly earnings for all employees decreased 0.2% in May.
- The June 2013 Empire State Manufacturing Survey indicated that the conditions for New York manufacturers improved modestly.
- The Philadelphia FED business outlook survey for June reported increased manufacturing activity.
- The Conference Board index of leading economic indicators increased 0.1% in May, 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%.
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June 14th, 2013
- Advance estimates of retail and food services sales for May were up 0.6% from the previous month, and were up 4.3% from May 2012.
- Total manufacturing and trade sales for April were down 0.1%, while inventories were up 0.3%.
- Sales of merchant wholesalers in April were up 0.5% while inventories were up 0.2%.
- The federal government budget ran a deficit of $138.7 billion in May, after a surplus of $112.9 billion in the previous month. The cumulative budget deficit for the first eight months of fiscal year 2013 was $218.2 billion less than the deficit for the same period of the previous fiscal year.
- The current account deficit increased to $106.1 billion in the first quarter, from $102.3 billion in the previous quarter.
- April consumer credit outstanding increased at an annual rate of 4.7%.
- The producer price index for finished goods increased 0.5% in May, following a decrease of 0.7% in the previous month. The core index -excluding food and energy- increased 0.1%, the same increase as in the previous month. The producer price index for finished goods increased 1.7% from May 2012 to May 2013.
- The import price index decreased 0.6% in May, following a 0.7% decrease in the previous month. The overall import price index decreased 1.9% from May 2012. The export price index decreased 0.5% in May, following a 0.7% decrease in the previous month. The price index for overall exports decreased 0.9% from May 2012.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 12 thousand to 334 thousand in the week ending June 8.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed average fixed mortgage rates trending higher. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 3.98% for the week ending June 13, up from last week when it averaged 3.91%.
- Mortgage applications increased 5.0% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending June 7th.
- The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment, preliminary, retreated in early June after reaching its highest level in nearly six years in May.
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June 10th, 2013
- Total non-farm payroll employment rose 175 thousand to 135.637 million in May, following an increase of 149 thousand in the previous month. Private-sector payrolls increased by 178 thousand in the month, while government employment decreased by 3 thousand.
- The unemployment rate increased to 7.6% in May, from 7.5% in April.
- The average workweek of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls was unchanged at 34.5 hours.
- Average hourly earnings of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by a cent to $23.89. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings were up 2.0%, while average weekly earnings were up 2.3%.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 11 thousand to 346 thousand in the week ending June 1.
- First quarter productivity increased 0.5% (seasonally adjusted annual rate) in the non-farm business sector, while unit labor costs decreased 4.3%. Productivity in the non-farm business sector increased 0.9% from the first quarter of 2012, while unit labor costs increased 1.1%.
- Sales of domestic cars increased 3.2% in May, while total light vehicle (cars and light trucks) sales increased 2.5%. Total vehicle sales were 15.229 million units in May, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, compared to 13.897 million in May of 2012.
- New orders for manufactured goods increased 1.0% in April, while shipments decreased 0.7%.
- In April international trade deficit was $40.3 billion, $3.2 billion more than the revised March figure.
- April construction spending increased 0.4%, following a 0.8% decrease in the previous month. Private construction increased 1.0%, while public construction decreased 1.2%.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed average fixed mortgage rates trending higher for the fifth consecutive week. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 3.91% for the week ending June 6, up from last week when it averaged 3.81%.
- Mortgage applications decreased 11.5% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending June 5th.
- The Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) manufacturing survey indicated that the manufacturing sector contracted in May for the first time since November 2012, and the overall economy grew for the 48th consecutive month.
- In May, the Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) non-manufacturing survey results indicated growth in the non-manufacturing business activity for the 41th consecutive month.
- TheFED’s “Beige Book” indicated that overall economic activity increased at a modest to moderate pace since the previous report across all Districts except the Dallas District, which reported strong economic growth.
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June 3rd, 2013
- Real GDP increased at an annual rate of 2.4% in the first quarter of 2013, after increasing at 0.4% in the previous quarter. In the “advance” estimate, released a month ago, real GDP increased 2.5%. The price index for gross domestic purchases increased 1.2% in the first quarter, compared to an increase of 1.6% in the previous quarter.
- Corporate profits from current production decreased $43.8 billion in the first quarter, after an increase of $45.4 billion in the previous quarter.
- Personal income decreased less than 0.1% in April, while personal consumption expenditures decreased 0.2%. The price index for personal consumption expenditures decreased 0.3% in April. The price index was up 0.7% from April 2012, while the core index was up 1.1%
- The S & P/Case-Shiller National U.S. Home Price Index posted annual increases of 10.3% and 10.9% in March, for the 10-city and 20-city composite indices, respectively.
- The Pending Home Sales Index, a leading indicator for the housing sector, increased 0.3% to a reading of 106.0 in April, according to the National Association of Realtors.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed average fixed mortgage rates trending higher.
- Mortgage applications decreased 8.8% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending May 24th.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased 10 thousand to 354 thousand in the week ending May 25.
- The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index, which had improved in April, increased again in May.
- The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment for May rose to its highest level in nearly six years.
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May 24th, 2013
- New orders for manufactured durable goods increased 3.3% in April, while shipments decreased 0.6%.
- April existing home sales increased 0.6% to an annualized rate of 4,970 thousand units. The median sales price of existing houses sold was $192.8 thousand, 11.0% above April 2012.
- April new home sales increased 2.3% to an annualized rate of 454 thousand units. The median sales price of new houses sold was $271.6 thousand, 14.9% above March 2012.
- U.S. House prices rose 1.3% on a seasonally adjusted basis from February to March, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) monthly House Price Index. For the 12 months ending in March, U.S. prices rose 7.2%.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed average fixed mortgage rates trending higher for the third consecutive week. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 3.59% for the week ending May 23, up from last week when it averaged 3.51%.
- Mortgage applications decreased 9.8% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending May 17th.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 23 thousand to 340 thousand in the week ending May 18.
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May 20th, 2013
- Advance estimates of retail and food services sales for April were up 0.1% from March, and were up 3.7% from April 2012.
- Total manufacturing and trade sales decreased 1.1% in March, while inventories held steady.
- Total Industrial production decreased 0.5% in April.
- Housing starts decreased 16.5% in April, while building permits increased 14.3%.
- The housing market index of National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Wells Fargo increased 3 points to 44 in May.
- The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 3.51% for the week ending May 16, up from last week when it averaged 3.42%, according to the weekly survey of Freddie Mac.
- Mortgage applications decreased 7.3% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending May 10th.
- The federal government budget ran a surplus of $112.9 billion in April, after a deficit of $106.5 billion in the previous month.
- Treasury International Capital reported net foreign purchases of long-term securities of $15.3 billion in March.
- The consumer price index (headline index) decreased 0.4% in April, while the core index increased 0.1%. The consumer price index (headline index) increased 1.1% for the 12-month period ending in April, while the core index rose 1.7%.
- The producer price index for finished goods (headline index) decreased 0.7% in April, while the core index increased 0.1%. The producer price index for finished goods increased 0.6% from April 2012 to April 2013.
- The import price index decreased 0.5% in April, while the export price index decreased 0.7%. The import price index decreased 2.6% from April 2012, while the price index for exports decreased 0.9%.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased 32 thousand to 360 thousand in the week ending May 11.
- Real average hourly earnings for all employees increased 0.5% from March to April.
- Regional and state unemployment rates were generally little changed in April.
- The May 2013 Empire State Manufacturing Survey indicated that the conditions for New York manufacturers declined marginally.
- The Philadelphia FED business outlook survey for May reported weakened manufacturing activity.
- The Conference Board index of leading economic indicators increased 0.6% in April, while the coincident index increased 0.1%.
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May 12th, 2013
- Sales of merchant wholesalers in March were down 1.6%, while inventories were up 0.4%.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 4 thousand to 323 thousand in the week ending May 4.
- March consumer credit outstanding increased at an annual rate of 3.4% to $2,807.5 billion.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed average fixed mortgage rates reversing their recent trend and moving higher for the first time in six weeks.
- Mortgage applications increased 7.0% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending May 3rd.
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May 12th, 2013
- Total non-farm payroll employment rose 165 thousand to 135.474 million in April, following an increase of 138 thousand in the previous month. Private-sector payrolls increased by 176 thousand in the month, while government employment decreased by 11 thousand.
- The unemployment rate decreased to 7.5% in April, from 7.6% in March.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 18 thousand to 324 thousand in the week ending April 27.
- First quarter productivity increased 0.7% (seasonally adjusted annual rate) in the non-farm business sector, following a 1.7% decrease in the previous period.
- The Employment Cost Index for total compensation rose 0.3%, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month period ending March 2013, following a 0.4% increase for the 3–month period ending December 2012.
- Sales of domestic cars decreased 4.6% in April, while total light vehicle (cars and light trucks) sales decreased 2.2%. Total vehicle sales were 14.867 million units in April, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, compared to 14.081 million in April of 2012.
- New orders for manufactured goods decreased 4.0% in March, while shipments decreased 1.0%.
- In March international trade deficit was $38.8 billion, $4.8 billion less than the revised February figure.
- March construction spending decreased 1.7%, following a 1.5% increase in the previous month, according to U.S. Census Bureau.
- The S & P/Case-Shiller National U.S. Home Price Index posted annual increases of 8.6% and 9.3% in February, for the 10-city and 20-city composite indices, respectively.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed average fixed mortgage rates moving lower for the fifth consecutive week.
- Mortgage applications increased 1.8% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending April 26th.
- The Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) manufacturing survey indicated that the manufacturing sector expanded in April for the fifth consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 47th consecutive month.
- In April, the Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) non-manufacturing survey results indicated growth in the non-manufacturing business activity for the 40th consecutive month.
- The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index, which had declined in March, increased in April.
- The Federal Open Market Committee decided to keep its target for the federal funds rate at 0 to 0.25%
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