April 29th, 2013
- Real GDP increased at an annual rate of 2.5% in the first quarter of 2013, after increasing at 0.4% in the previous quarter. The price index for gross domestic purchases increased 1.1% in the first quarter, compared to an increase of 1.6% in the previous quarter.
- Personal income and personal consumption expenditures both increased 0.2% in March. The price index for personal consumption expenditures decreased 0.1% in March, while the core index held steady. The price index (headline index) was up 1.0% from March 2012, while the core index was up 1.1%.
- New orders for manufactured durable goods decreased 5.7% in March, while shipments increased 0.4%.
- March existing home sales decreased 0.6% to an annualized rate of 4,920 thousand units. The median sales price of existing houses sold was $184.3 thousand, 11.8% above March 2012.
- March new home sales increased 1.5% to an annualized rate of 417 thousand units. The median sales price of new houses sold was $247.0 thousand, 3.0% above March 2012.
- The Pending Home Sales Index increased 1.5% to a reading of 105.7 in March, according to the National Association of Realtors. The index was 7.0% above March 2012 level.
- U.S. House prices rose 0.7% on a seasonally adjusted basis from January to February, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA). For the 12 months ending in February, U.S. prices rose 7.1%. The index is now 13.6% below its April 2007 peak and is roughly the same as the October 2004 level.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed average fixed mortgage rates moving lower for the fourth consecutive week and continuing to support the ongoing housing recovery.
- Mortgage applications increased 0.2% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending April 19th.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 16 thousand to 339 thousand in the week ending April 20.
- The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment for April dropped to 76.4.
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April 22nd, 2013
- Total Industrial production increased 0.4% in March, after a 1.1% increase in the previous month.
- Housing starts increased 7.0% in March, following a 6.7% increase in the previous month.
- The housing market index of National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Wells Fargo decreased 2 points to 42 in April.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed average fixed mortgage rates moving lower for the third consecutive week.
- Mortgage applications increased 4.8% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending April 12th.
- The consumer price index (headline index) decreased 0.2% in March, while the core index increased 0.1%. The consumer price index increased 1.5% for the 12-month period ending in March, while the core index rose 1.9%.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased 4 thousand to 352 thousand in the week ending April 13.
- Real average hourly earnings for all employees increased 0.2% from February to March.
- Treasury International Capital reported net foreign purchases of long-term securities of $7.6 billion in February, compared with net purchases of $48.3 billion in the previous month.
- The April Empire State Manufacturing Survey indicated that the conditions for New York manufacturers improved slightly.
- The Philadelphia FED business outlook survey for April reported near steady business activity.
- The FED’s “Beige Book” indicated that overall economic activity generally expanded at a moderate pace during the reporting period from late February to early April.
- The Conference Board index of leading economic indicators decreased 0.1% in March, following an increase of 0.5% in the previous month.
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April 15th, 2013
- Advance estimates of retail and food services sales for March were down 0.4% from February, but were up 2.8% from March 2012.
- Total manufacturing and trade sales for February were up 1.2% from January, while inventories were up 0.1%.
- Sales of merchant wholesalers in February were up 1.7% from January, while inventories were down 0.3%.
- The federal government budget ran a deficit of $106.5 billion in March. The cumulative budget deficit for the first six months of fiscal year 2013 was $600.5 billion, $178.5 billion less than the deficit for the same period of the previous fiscal year.
- The producer price index for finished goods decreased 0.6% in March, following an increase of 0.7% in the previous month. The producer price index for finished goods increased 1.1% from March 2012 to March 2013.
- The import price index decreased 0.5% in March, while export prices decreased 0.4%.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 42 thousand to 346 thousand in the week ending April 6.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed average fixed mortgage rates edging down for the second consecutive week.
- Mortgage applications increased 4.5% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending April 5th.
- The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment, preliminary, for April dropped to 72.3, from 78.6 in March.
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April 8th, 2013
- Total non-farm payroll employment rose 88 thousand in March, following an increase of 268 thousand in the previous month. Private-sector payrolls increased by 95 thousand in the month, while government employment decreased by 7 thousand.
- The unemployment rate decreased to 7.6% in March, from 7.7% in February.
- The average workweek of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased 0.1 to 34.6 hours. Average hourly earnings increased by a cent to $23.82. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings were up 1.8%.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased 28 thousand to 385 thousand in the week ending March 30.
- Sales of domestic cars decreased 2.9% in March, while total light vehicle (cars and light trucks) sales decreased 0.8%. Total light vehicle sales were 15.203 million units, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, compared to 14.088 million in March of 2012.
- New orders for manufactured goods increased 3.0% in February, while shipments increased 0.9%.
- In February, international trade deficit was $43.0 billion, $1.5 billion less than the revised January figure.
- February construction spending increased 1.2%, following a 2.1% decrease in the previous month.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed average fixed mortgage rates decreasing for the week ending April 4th.
- Mortgage applications decreased 4.0% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending March 29th.
- The Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) manufacturing survey indicated expansion in March for the fourth consecutive month.
- In March, the Institute for Supply Management’s non-manufacturing survey results indicated growth for the 39th consecutive month.
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April 1st, 2013
- Real GDP increased at an annual rate of 0.4% in the fourth quarter of 2012, after increasing at 3.1% in the previous quarter. In the “second” estimate, released a month ago, real GDP increased 0.1%.
- Corporate profits from current production increased $45.4 billion in the fourth quarter, after an increase of $45.7 billion in the previous quarter.
- Personal income increased 1.1%, in February, while personal consumption expenditures increased 0.7%. Personal savings as percent of personal disposable income were 2.6% in February, compared with 2.2% in the previous month.
- The price index for personal consumption expenditures increased 0.4% in February, while the core index increased 0.1%. The price index (headline index) and the core index were both up 1.3% from February 2012.
- New orders for manufactured durable goods increased 5.7% in February, while shipments increased 1.0%.
- February new home sales decreased 4.6% to an annualized rate of 411 thousand units. The median sales price of new houses sold was $246.8 thousand, 2.9% above February 2012.
- The S & P/Case-Shiller National U.S. Home Price Index increased 7.3% and 8.1% in the 12 months ending in January, for the 10-city and 20-city composite indices, respectively. In the 12 months ended in January, prices rose in all 20 cities.
- The Pending Home Sales Index decreased 0.4% to a reading of 104.8 in February, according to the National Association of Realtors. The index was 8.4% above February 2012 level.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed average fixed mortgage rates moving slightly higher for the week, but still remaining near historic lows.
- Mortgage applications increased 7.7% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending March 22nd.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased 16 thousand to 357 thousand in the week ending March 23.
- The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index, which had improved in February, declined in March.
- The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment rose in March.
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March 25th, 2013
- Housing starts increased 0.8% in February, following a 7.3% decrease in the previous month. Building permits in February were 946 thousand units, up 4.6% from January, and were up 33.8% from February 2012.
- February existing home sales increased 0.8% to an annualized rate of 4,980 thousand units. The median sales price of existing houses sold was $173.6 thousand, 11.6% above February 2012.
- U.S. House prices rose 0.6% on a seasonally adjusted basis from December to January, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA). For the 12 months ending in January, U.S. prices rose 6.5%.
- The housing market index of National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Wells Fargo decreased 2 points to 44 in March. The index was 28 in March of 2012.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed average fixed mortgage rates reversing course from the previous week and heading lower with the start of the spring home-buying season.
- Mortgage applications decreased 7.1% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending March 15th.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased 2 thousand to 336 thousand in the week ending March 16.
- The Philadelphia FED business outlook survey for March reported slight increases in manufacturing activity.
- The Conference Board index of leading economic indicators increased 0.5% in February, while the coincident index increased 0.2%.
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March 18th, 2013
- Advance estimates of retail and food services sales for February were up 1.1% from January, and were up 4.6% from February 2012.
- Total manufacturing and trade sales for January were down 0.3%, while inventories were up 1.0%.
- Total Industrial production increased 0.7% in February, after increasing less than 0.1% in the previous month.
- The federal government budget ran a deficit of $203.5 billion in February, after a surplus of $2.9 billion in the previous month.
- The current account deficit decreased to $110.4 billion in the fourth quarter, from $112.4 billion in the previous quarter.
- Treasury International Capital reported net foreign purchases of long-term securities of $48.2 billion in January, compared with net purchases of $76.5 billion in the previous month.
- The consumer price index (headline index), which held steady in January, increased 0.7% in February, while the core index increased 0.2%. The headline index and the core index both rose 2.0% for the 12-month period ending in February.
- The producer price index for finished goods (headline index) increased 0.7% in February, while the core index increased 0.2%. The producer price index for finished goods increased 1.7% from February 2012 to February 2013.
- The import price index increased 1.1% in February, while the export price index increased 0.8%.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 10 thousand to 322 thousand in the week ending March 9.
- Real average hourly earnings for all employees decreased 0.6% from January to February.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed average fixed mortgage rates rising this week.
- Mortgage applications decreased 4.7% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending March 8st.
- The March Empire State Manufacturing Survey indicated that the conditions for New York manufacturers continued to improve modestly.
- The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment, preliminary, for March dropped to 71.8, the lowest level since December 2011.
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March 11th, 2013
- Total non-farm payroll employment rose 236 thousand to 135.046 million in February, following an increase of 119 thousand in the previous month. Private-sector payrolls increased by 246 thousand in the month, while government employment decreased by 10 thousand.
- The unemployment rate decreased to 7.7% in February, from 7.9% in January.
- The average workweek of production and non-supervisory employees increased 0.2 to 33.8 hours, while average hourly earnings increased by 5 cents to $20.04. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings were up 2.0%.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 7 thousand to 340 thousand in the week ending March 7.
- Fourth quarter productivity decreased 1.9% (seasonally adjusted annual rate) in the non-farm business sector, following a 3.1% increase in the previous period. Hourly compensation increased 2.6%, while unit labor costs increased 4.6%.
- Sales of domestic cars decreased 2.3% in February, while total light vehicle (cars and light trucks) sales increased 0.7%. Total light vehicle sales were 15.323 million units in February, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, compared to 14.429 million in February of 2012.
- New orders for manufactured goods decreased 2.0% in January, while shipments decreased 0.2%.
- Sales of merchant wholesalers in January were down 0.8%, while inventories were up 1.2%.
- In January international trade deficit was $44.4 billion, $6.3 billion more than the revised December figure.
- January consumer credit outstanding increased at an annual rate of 7.0% to $2,795.3 billion. Revolving credits increased at an annual rate of 0.1%, while non-revolving credits increased 10.0%.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed average fixed mortgage rates largely holding steady from the previous week, remaining near their 65-year lows.
- Mortgage applications increased 14.8% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending March 1st.
- In February, the Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) non-manufacturing survey results indicated growth in the non-manufacturing business activity (exceeded 50.0%) for the 38th consecutive month.
- The FED’s “Beige Book” indicated that overall economic activity generally expanded at a modest to moderate pace in January and early February.
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March 4th, 2013
- Real GDP increased at an annual rate of 0.1% in the fourth quarter of 2012, after increasing at 3.1% in the previous quarter. In the “advance” estimate, released a month ago, real GDP declined 0.1%. The price index for gross domestic purchases increased 1.5% in the final quarter, compared to an increase of 1.4% in the previous quarter.
- Personal income decreased 3.6%, in January, while personal consumption expenditures increased 0.2%. The price index for personal consumption expenditures held steady in January for the second consecutive month.
- New orders for manufactured durable goods decreased 5.2% in January while shipments decreased 1.2%.
- January construction spending decreased 2.1%, following a 1.1% increase in the previous month. Private construction decreased 2.6%, while public construction decreased 1.0%.
- January new home sales increased 15.6% to an annualized rate of 437 thousand units. The median sales price of new houses sold was $226.4 thousand, 2.1% above January 2012.
- U.S. House prices rose 0.6% on a seasonally adjusted basis from November to December, after a 0.4% increase in the previous period, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) monthly House Price Index. For the 12 months ending in December, U.S. prices rose 5.8%.
- The S & P/Case-Shiller National U.S. Home Price Index posted annual increases of 6.0% and 6.9% in December, for the 10-city and 20-city composite indices, respectively.
- The Pending Home Sales Index, a leading indicator for the housing sector, increased 4.5% to a reading of 105.9 in January, according to the National Association of Realtors.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed average fixed mortgage rates moving lower after being largely unchanged over the past month.
- Mortgage applications decreased 3.8% from a week earlier week, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending February 22nd.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 22 thousand to 344 thousand in the week ending February 23.
- The Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) manufacturing survey indicated that the manufacturing sector expanded in February for the third consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 45th consecutive month.
- The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index, which had declined in January, rebounded in February.
- The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment rose to 77.6 in February, from 73.8 in January.
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February 25th, 2013
- Housing starts in January were down 8.5% from December, but were up 23.6% from January 2012.
- January existing home sales were up 0.4% from the previous month, and were up from January 2012. The median sales price of existing houses sold was $173.6 thousand, 12.3% above January 2012.
- The housing market index of National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Wells Fargo decreased a point to 46 in February.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed average fixed mortgage rates changing little over past four weeks.
- The producer price index for finished goods (headline index) increased 0.2% in January, while the core index increased 0.2%. The producer price index for finished goods increased 1.4% from January 2012 to January 2013.
- The consumer price index (headline index) held steady in January, while the core index increased 0.3%. The consumer price index increased 1.6% for the 12-month period ending in January, while the core index rose 1.9%.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased 20 thousand to 362 thousand in the week ending February 16.
- Real average hourly earnings for all employees increased 0.2% from December to January.
- The Philadelphia FED business outlook survey for February reported that manufacturing activity continued to decline.
- The Conference Board index of leading economic indicators increased 0.2%, while the coincident index increased 0.4%.
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