The Chicago Purchasing Managers reported the CHICAGO BUSINESS BAROMETER gained slightly to mark its thirteenth month of expansion. All Business Activity and Buying Policy indexes increased in October.

BUSINESS ACTIVITY:
PRODUCTION and NEW ORDERS increased together for a second month;
PRICES PAID jumped;
EMPLOYMENT improved slightly;
INVENTORIES returned to growth. ...

There has been no discernable change in the overall level of consumer confidence during the past four months. At its current level, the Sentiment Index is about 20 index-points below its all-time mean, ranking barely above the bottom decile of all monthly surveys. Not only has the Sentiment recovery been slow and shallow, confidence has ...

Real gross domestic product -- the output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States -- increased at an annual rate of 2.0 percent in the third quarter of 2010, (that is, from the second quarter to the third quarter), according to the "advance" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In ...

Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.4 percent, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month period ending September 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Wages and salaries (which make up about 70 percent of compensation costs) increased 0.3 percent while benefits (which make up the remaining 30 percent of ...

New York City business activity expanded at the fastest pace in four mo nths, according to the survey taken by the Institute for Supply Management-New York (ISM-NY) . The Current Business Conditions index rose to 64.7 in October from 58.3 in September. Future optimism picked up again, to the highest level in five months. The Six-Month ...

Tenth District manufacturing activity continued to expand moderately in October, and producers were increasingly optimistic about future activity. Price indexes in the survey edged up slightly for the second straight month.

The net percentage of firms reporting month-over-month increases in production in October was 10, down from 14 in September but up from 0 in August (Tables 1 & 2, Chart). The slight decrease in production occurred among both durable and nondurable goods producing plants, ...

For the week ending October 16, 2010, the DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer edged up by +0.1 percent after falling for two consecutive weeks. Despite the better performance in the barometer in the latest week, widespread weakness among the indicators still reigned. The consumption side of the barometer was sharply lower, headlined by a sharp ...

In the week ending Oct. 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 434,000, a decrease of 21,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 455,000. The 4-week moving average was 453,250, a decrease of 5,500 from the previous week's revised average of ...

The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index (CFMMI) increased 0.1% in September, to a seasonally adjusted level of 80.2 (2007 = 100). Revised data show the index fell 1.3% in August to 80.1. The Federal Reserve Board’s industrial production index for manufacturing (IPMFG) edged down 0.1% in September. Regional output in September rose 8.4% from ...

Sales of new single-family houses in September 2010 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 307,000, according to estimates released jointly today by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is 6.6 percent (±16.9%) above the revised August rate of 288,000, but is 21.5 percent (±13.3%) below ...

New orders for manufactured durable goods in September increased $6.3 billion or 3.3 percent to $199.2 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. Up two of the last three months, this increase followed a 1.0 percent August decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.8 percent. Excluding defense, new orders increased ...

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending October 22, 2010. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 3.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 3.1 percent ...

Manufacturing activity in the central Atlantic region advanced modestly in October, following a slight pullback in September, according to the Richmond Fed's latest survey. Looking at the main components of activity, shipments and employment edged back into positive territory while the volume of new orders posted solid gains. Other ...

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®, which had declined in September, increased slightly in October. The Index now stands at 50.2 (1985=100), up from 48.6 in September. The Present Situation Index increased to 23.9 from 23.3. The Expectations Index improved to 67.8 ...

Data through August 2010, released today by Standard & Poor’s for its S&P/Case-Shiller1 Home Price Indices, the leading measure of U.S. home prices, show a deceleration in the annual growth rates in 17 of the 20 MSAs and the 10- and 20-City Composites in August compared to what was reported for July 2010. The 10-City Composite was up 2.6% and ...

The weekly roller coaster pattern facing retailers this October continued as retail sales were on the upswing and improved slightly this past week. Overall for the week ending October 23, 2010, sales rose by 0.3 percent, according to the ICSC-Goldman Sachs Weekly Chain Store Sales Index. On a year-over-year basis, retail sales momentum ...

Texas factory activity increased in October, according to business executives responding to the Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey. The production index, a key measure of state manufacturing conditions, was positive for the second consecutive month and slightly higher than its ...

Existing-home sales rose again in September, affirming that a sales recovery has begun, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

Existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, jumped 10.0 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.53 million in September from a downwardly revised 4.12 million in August, but remain 19.1 ...

Led by declines in production-related indicators, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index decreased to –0.58 in September from –0.49 in August. Three of the four broad categories of indicators that make up the index slightly improved from August, but only the sales, orders, and inventories category made a positive contribution to the index ...

Employers took 1,486 mass layoff actions in September that resulted in the separation of 133,379 workers, seasonally adjusted, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Each action involved at least 50 persons from a single employer. The number of ...

Results from the Business Outlook Survey suggest that regional manufacturing activity was steady in October. Although the broad survey measures showed marginal improvement this month, the new orders index continued to suggest weak demand for manufactured goods. More firms reported increases in input prices this month, although the prices of ...

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the U.S. increased 0.3 percent in September to 110.4 (2004 = 100), following a 0.1 percent increase in August, and a 0.2 percent increase in July.

The LEI remains on a general upward trend, but it is growing at its slowest pace since the middle of 2009. There isn’t any indication of a relapse into another downturn through the end of the year. ...

For the week ending October 9, 2010, the DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer edged down by another -0.1 percent on top of a downward revised -0.5 percent decline in the prior week. The downward revision to the week ending October 2nd came from a revised decline in inflation-adjusted chain store sales, to -1.7 percent compared to the ...

In the week ending Oct. 16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 452,000, a decrease of 23,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 475,000. The 4-week moving average was 458,000, a decrease of 4,250 from the previous week's revised average of ...

Reports from the twelve Federal Reserve Districts suggest that, on balance, national economic activity continued to rise, albeit at a modest pace, during the reporting period from September to early October.

Manufacturing activity continued to expand, with production and new orders rising across most Districts. Demand for nonfinancial services was reported to be stable to modestly increasing overall. Consumer spending was steady to up slightly, but consumers remained ...

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending October 8, 2010. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 14.6 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 14.8 percent ...

BUILDING PERMITS
Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in September were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 539,000. This is 5.6 percent (±1.4%) below the revised August rate of 571,000 and is 10.9 percent (±2.3%) below the September 2009 estimate of 605,000. Single-family authorizations in September were at a rate ...

Like last month weekly retail sales are once again on a rollercoaster ride as retailers saw their sales slip this past week after last weeks recovery. According to the ICSC and Goldman Sachs Weekly Chain Store Sales Index slipped by 0.7 percent for the week ending October 16, 2010. On a year-over-year basis, retail sales remained positive ...

Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes rose three points to 16 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) for October, released today. This was the first improvement registered by the HMI in five months, and returns the index to a level last seen in June of ...

Industrial production decreased 0.2 percent in September after having increased 0.2 percent in August. The indexes both for manufacturing and for manufacturing excluding motor vehicles and parts also moved down 0.2 percent in September. Production at mines moved up 0.7 percent, while the output of utilities fell 1.9 percent. For the third ...

The U.S. Department of the Treasury today released Treasury International Capital (TIC) data for August 2010. Net foreign purchases of long-term securities were $128.7 billion.

Net foreign purchases of long-term U.S. securities were $136.6 billion. Of this, net purchases by private foreign investors were $113.1 billion, and net purchases by foreign official institutions were $23.5 billion. U.S. residents purchased a net $7.9 billion of long-term ...

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that the combined value of distributive trade sales and manufacturers’ shipments for August, adjusted for seasonal and trading-day differences but not for price changes, was estimated at $1,093.2 billion, up 0.1 percent (±0.2%)* from July 2010, and up 8.2 percent (±0.4%) from ...

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for September, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $367.7 billion, an increase of 0.6 percent (±0.5%) from the previous month, and 7.3 percent (±0.7%) above September 2009. ...

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.1 percent in September on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 1.1 percent before seasonal adjustment.

Increases in food indexes and another rise in the gasoline index ...

The Empire State Manufacturing Survey indicates that conditions improved in October for New York State manufacturers. The general business conditions index rose 12 points, to 15.7. The new orders and shipments indexes were also positive and well above their September levels. The inventories index dipped below zero, falling to its lowest ...

Real average hourly earnings for all employees fell 0.1 percent from August to September, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This decrease stems from a 0.1 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), while average hourly earnings ...

For the week ending October 2, 2010, the DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer reversed course by falling -0.3 percent following an increase of the same magnitude in the prior week. A drop in utility demand alone accounted for -0.2 percentage points of the barometer’s decline in the latest week as national temperatures were well above normal, which ...

The Nation’s international trade deficit in goods and services increased to $46.3 billion in August from $42.6 billion (revised) in July, as imports increased more than exports.

The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the Department of Commerce, announced today that total August exports of $153.9 billion and imports of $200.2 billion resulted in a goods and services deficit of $46.3 billion, up from $42.6 billion in ...

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods increased 0.4 percent in September, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This advance followed a 0.4 percent rise in August and a 0.2 percent increase in July. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods moved up ...

In the week ending Oct. 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 462,000, an increase of 13,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 449,000. The 4-week moving average was 459,000, an increase of 2,250 from the previous week's revised average of ...

U.S. import prices fell 0.3 percent in September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, following a 0.6 percent increase the previous month. Declining fuel prices more than offset an increase in nonfuel prices. In contrast, the price index for U.S. exports rose 0.6 percent in September after a 0.8 percent rise ...

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending October 8, 2010. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 14.6 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 14.8 percent ...

The Conference Board Employment Trends Index™ (ETI) declined moderately in September. The index now stands at 97.0, down from August’s revised figure of 97.3. The index is up 9.3 percent from a year ago, but up just 0.6 percent from April.

While continued slow job growth remains the most likely scenario over the next several months, The Conference Board ETI suggests that the likelihood of another episode of job losses is increasing. As employment lags changes in the economy, and with GDP growth forecasted to ...

U.S. weekly chain-store sales rose 2.6 percent from one year ago, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and Goldman Sachs. This past week to week change in comparable store sales also turned positive, but remained subdued with a 0.8 percent ...

The Index of Small Business Optimism gained 0.2 points in September, rising to 89.0. The increase is certainly not a significant move, but at least it did not fall. Still, the Index remains in recession territory. The downturn may be officially over, but small business owners have for the most part seen no evidence ...

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that August 2010 sales of merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, after adjustment for seasonal variations and trading-day differences but not for price changes, were $352.4 billion, up 0.5 percent (+/-0.5%) from the revised July level and were up 12.4 percent (+/-1.4%) ...

Nonfarm payroll employment edged down (-95,000) in September, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 9.6 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Government employment declined (-159,000), reflecting both a drop in the number of temporary jobs for Census 2010 and job losses in local government. Private-sector ...

In August, total consumer credit decreased at an annual rate of 1-3/4 percent. Revolving credit decreased at an annual rate of 7-1/4 percent, and revolving credit increased at an annual rate of 1-1/4 percent.

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For the week ending September 25, 2010, the DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer reversed course by increasing +0.3 percent following a decline of the same magnitude in the prior week. Although the barometer finished the third quarter on a strong note, overall growth slowed compared to the second quarter. Sources of growth in the economy ...

There were 3.2 million job openings on the last business day of August 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The job openings rate was unchanged over the month at 2.4 percent. The hires rate (3.2 percent) and the separations rate (3.2 percent) were little changed. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of ...