Current-Cast® Report

*          Advance estimates of retail and food services sales for June were down 0.5% from May, but were up 3.8% from June 2011.

*          Total manufacturing and trade sales were down 0.1% in May, while inventories were up 0.3%.

*          Total Industrial production increased 0.4% in June. The rate of capacity utilization for total industry was 78.9%.

*          Housing starts increased 6.9% in June, while building permits decreased 3.7%.

*          June existing home sales decreased 5.4% to an annualized rate of 4,370 thousand units. The median sales price of existing houses sold was $189.4 thousand, 7.9% above June 2011.

*          The housing market index of National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Wells Fargo rose to 35 in July, from 29 in June.

*          Fixed mortgage rates continued to find new all-time record lows, according to Freddie Macís weekly primary mortgage market surveys. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 3.53% for the week ending July 19, down from the previous week when it averaged 3.56%.

*          Treasury International Capital reported net foreign purchases of long-term securities of $50.1 billion in May.

*          The consumer price index (headline index) held steady in June, while the core index increased 0.2%. The consumer price index increased 1.7% for the 12-month period ending in June, while the core index rose 2.2%.

*          The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased 34 thousand to 386 thousand in the week ending July 14.

*          July Empire State Manufacturing Survey indicated that manufacturing activity in New York State expanded modestly over the month.

*          The Philadelphia FED business outlook survey for July indicated weaker business conditions.

*          The Conference Board index of leading economic indicators decreased 0.3% in June, while the coincident index increased 0.2%.

*          In May international trade deficit was $48.7 billion, $1.9 billion less than the revised April figure.

*          The federal government budget ran a deficit of $59.7 billion in June, after a deficit of $124.6 billion in the previous month.

*          May consumer credit outstanding increased at an annual rate of 8.0% to $2,572.8 billion.

*          Fixed mortgage rates continued to find new record lows, according to Freddie Macís weekly primary mortgage market surveys. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 3.56% for the week ending July 12, down from the previous week when it averaged 3.62%.

*          Sales of merchant wholesalers in May were down 0.8% from April, while inventories were up 0.3%.

*          The producer price index for finished goods (headline index) increased 0.1% in June, while the core index increased 0.2%. The producer price index for finished goods increased 0.7% from June 2011 to June 2012.

*          The import price index decreased 2.7% in June, while the export price index decreased 1.7%.

*          The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 26 thousand to 350 thousand in the week ending July 7.

*          The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment, preliminary, declined in July to the lowest level this year.

*          Total non-farm payroll employment rose 80 thousand to 133.088 million in June, following an increase of 77 thousand in the previous month. Private-sector payrolls increased 84 thousand in the month, while government employment decreased 4 thousand.

*          The number of unemployed persons increased by 129 thousand to 12.749 million. The unemployment rate held steady at 8.2%.

*          The average workweek of production and non-supervisory employees increased by 0.1 to 33.8 hours. Average hourly earnings increased by 5 cents to $19.74.

*          The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 14 thousand to 374 thousand in the week ending June 30.

*          Sales of domestic cars increased 2.3% in June, while foreign car sales held steady. Total light vehicle (cars and light trucks) sales increased 2.3% in June, after a 4.5% decrease in the previous month. Sales were 14.0 million units in June, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, compared to 11.5 million in June of 2011, and 11.3 million in June of 2010.

*          New orders for manufactured goods (excluding semiconductors) increased 0.7% in May, while shipments increased 0.5% in May.

*          May construction spending increased 0.9% to $830.0 billion, seasonally adjusted annual rate. Private construction increased 1.6%, while public construction decreased 0.4%.

*          Fixed mortgage rates continued to find new record lows, according to Freddie Mac’s weekly primary mortgage market surveys. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 3.62% for the week ending July 5, down from the previous week when it averaged 3.66%.

*          The Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) manufacturing survey indicated that the manufacturing sector contracted in June for the first time since July 2009.

*          In June, the Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) non-manufacturing survey results indicated growth in the non-manufacturing business activity for the 30th consecutive month.

*          Real GDP increased at an annual rate of 1.9% in the first quarter of 2012, after increasing at 3.0% in the previous quarter.

*          The price index for gross domestic purchases increased 2.6% in the first quarter, compared to an increase of 1.1% in the previous quarter.

*          Corporate profits from current production decreased $6.4 billion in the first quarter, after an increase of $16.8 billion in the previous quarter

*          Personal income increased 0.2%, in May, while personal consumption expenditures decreased less than 0.1%. The price index for personal consumption expenditures decreased 0.2% in May. The price index (headline index) was up 1.5% from May 2011, while the core index was up 1.8%.

*          New orders for manufactured durable goods increased 1.1% in May, while Shipments increased 0.7%

*          May new home sales increased 7.6% to an annualized rate of 369 thousand units. The median sales price was $234.5 thousand, 5.6% above the May 2011 figure.

*          The Pending Home Sales Index, a leading indicator for the housing sector, increased 5.9% to a reading of 101.1 in May.

*          The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 3.66% for the week ending June 28, unchanged from the previous week.

*          The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 6 thousand to 386 thousand in the week ending June 23.

*          The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index, which had declined in May, fell further in June.

*          The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment posted a sizeable loss in June.

*          Housing starts decreased 4.8% in May, following an increase of 5.4% in the previous month.

*          May existing home sales decreased 1.5% to an annualized rate of 4,550 thousand units. There were 2,490 thousand homes for sale at the end of the month. The median sales price of existing houses sold was $182.6 thousand, 7.9% above May 2011.

*          The housing market index of National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Wells Fargo rose to 29 in June, from 28 in May.

*          The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 3.66% for the week ending June 21, down from last week when it averaged 3.71%. .

*          The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 2 thousand to 387 thousand in the week ending June 16.

*          The Philadelphia FED business outlook survey for June indicated weaker business conditions this month.

*          The Conference Board index of leading economic indicators increased 0.3% in May, while the index of coincident indicators increased 0.2%.

*          The Federal Open Market Committee decided to keep its target for the federal funds rate at 0 to 0.25%, and indicated that it is anticipated that economic conditions are likely to warrant exceptionally low levels for the federal funds rate at least through late 2014.

*          Advance estimates of retail and food services sales for May were down 0.2% from April, but were up 5.3% from May 2011.

*          Total manufacturing and trade sales for April increased 0.2%, while inventories increased 0.4%.

*          Total Industrial production decreased 0.1% in May, following a 1.0% increase in the previous month.

*          The federal government budget ran a deficit of $124.6 billion in May, after a surplus of $59.1 billion in the previous month.

*          Domestic non-financial debt rose at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.7% in the first quarter of 2012, following an increase of 4.9% in the previous quarter.

*          The current account deficit increased to $137.3 billion in the first quarter of 2012, from $118.7 billion in the previous quarter.

*          Treasury International Capital reported net foreign purchases of long-term securities of $26.1 billion in April, compared with net purchases of $21.9 billion in the previous month.

*          The import price index decreased 1.0% in May, while the export price index decreased 0.4%.

*          The producer price index (headline index) for finished goods decreased 1.0% in May, while the core index increased 0.2%. The producer price index for finished goods increased 0.7% from May 2011 to May 2012.

*          The consumer price index decreased 0.3% in May, while the core index increased 0.2%. The consumer price index increased 1.7% for the 12-month period ending in May, while the core index rose 2.3%.

*          The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 3.71% for the week ending June 14, up from last week when it averaged 3.67%. .

*          The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased 6 thousand to 386 thousand in the week ending June 9.

*          The June Empire State Manufacturing Survey indicated that manufacturing activity in New York State expanded slightly over the month.

*          The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment, preliminary, declined in June to the lowest level this year.

*          Sales of domestic cars decreased 6.2% in May, while total light vehicle (cars and light trucks) sales decreased 4.5% in May. Sales were 13.726 million units in May, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, compared to 11.687 million in May of 2011.

*          New orders for manufactured goods (excluding semiconductors) decreased 0.6% in April, while shipments of manufactured goods decreased 0.3%.

*          Sales of merchant wholesalers in April were up 1.1%, while inventories were up 0.6%.

*          In April international trade deficit was $50.1 billion, $2.5 billion less than the revised March figure.

*          April consumer credit outstanding increased at an annual rate of 3.1% to $2,550.9 billion.

*          Both 30-year and 15-year fixed mortgage rates were at their new all-time record lows, according to Freddie Mac’s weekly surveys.

*          The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 12 thousand to 377 thousand in the week ending June 2.

*          First quarter productivity decreased 0.9% (seasonally adjusted annual rate) in the non-farm business sector, while unit labor costs increased 1.3%.

*          In May, the Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) non-manufacturing survey results indicated growth in the non-manufacturing business activity for the 29th consecutive month.

*          The FED’s Beige Book indicated that overall economic activity continued to expand at a moderate pace from early April to late May.

*          Total non-farm payroll employment rose 69 thousand in May, following an increase of 77 thousand in the previous month.

*          The unemployment rate increased to 8.2% in May, from 8.1% in the previous month.

*          The average workweek decreased by 0.1 to 34.8 hours. Average hourly earnings increased to $23.41, while average weekly earnings decreased to $805.30.

*          The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased 10 thousand to 383 thousand in the week ending May 26.

*          Real GDP increased at an annual rate of 1.9% in the first quarter of 2012, after increasing at 3.0% in the previous quarter. In the advance estimate, released a month ago, the increase in real GDP was 2.2%.

*          Corporate profits from current production increased $11.4 billion in the first quarter, after an increase of $16.8 billion in the previous quarter.

*          Personal income increased 0.2% in April, while personal consumption expenditures increased 0.3%. The price index for personal consumption expenditures held steady in April, while the core index increased 0.2%.

*          April construction spending increased 0.3%. Private construction increased 1.2%, while public construction decreased 1.4%.

*          The Pending Home Sales Index decreased 5.5% to a reading of 95.5 in April.

*          The 30-year fixed mortgage rate for the week ending May 31 was down to its all-time record low of 3.75%.

*          The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index, which had declined slightly in April, fell further in May.

*          The Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) manufacturing survey indicated that the manufacturing sector expanded (exceeded 50.0%) in May for the 34th consecutive month.