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Chicago Fed National Activity Index slowed in February
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Led by declines in production-related indicators, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index decreased to –0.64 in February, down from –0.04 in January. Three of the four broad categories of indicators that make up the index deteriorated, and only the sales, orders, and inventories category made a positive contribution.
The index’s three-month moving average, CFNAI-MA3, decreased to –0.39 in February from –0.13 in January, but for the second consecutive month, it was higher than at any point since December 2007. February’s CFNAI-MA3 suggests that growth in national economic activity was below its historical trend. With regard to inflation, the amount of economic slack reflected in the CFNAI-MA3 indicates low inflationary pressure from economic activity over the coming year.
Production-related indicators made a negative contribution to the index for the first time in eight months, contributing –0.08 to the index in February compared with +0.41 in January. Adverse weather conditions played a part in both manufacturing industrial production decreasing 0.2 percent in February and manufacturing capacity utilization decreasing for the first time in eight months.
Posted: March 22, 2010 Monday 08:30 AM