 Chicago Purchasing Managers Index Remained Stable at 53.7 Posted: July 31, 2012 at 10:00 AM (Tuesday)The Chicago Purchasing Managers reported the July Chicago Business Barometer gained incrementally while the short term trend of the Chicago Business Barometer fell for the fourth month. Gains in New Orders and Order Backlogs were offset by weakness in Production, Employment, and Supplier Deliveries. The three month moving average on all ... |
 Consumer Confidence improved slightly in July to 65.9 Posted: July 31, 2012 at 10:00 AM (Tuesday)The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®, which had declined in June, improved slightly in July. The Index now stands at 65.9 (1985=100), up from 62.7 in June. The Expectations Index improved to 79.1 from 73.4. The Present Situation Index, however, decreased slightly to 46.2 from 46.6 a ... |
 S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices increased 2.2% Posted: July 31, 2012 at 09:10 AM (Tuesday)Data through May 2012, released today by S&P Dow Jones Indices for its S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, the leading measure of U.S. home prices, showed that average home prices increased by 2.2% in May over April for both the 10- and 20-City Composites.
With May’s data, we found that home prices fell annually by 1.0% for the 10-City Composite and by 0.7% for the 20-City Composite versus May 2011. Both Composites and 17 of the 20 MSAs saw increases in annual returns in May compared to April. Boston, Charlotte and Detroit ... |
 Personal Income increased 0.5%, Spending decreased 0.1% Posted: July 31, 2012 at 08:30 AM (Tuesday)Personal income increased $61.8 billion, or 0.5 percent, and disposable personal income (DPI) increased $52.4 billion, or 0.4 percent, in June, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) decreased $1.3 billion, or less than 0.1 percent. In May, personal income increased $39.0 billion, or 0.3 percent, ... |
 Employment Cost Index up 0.5% in 2Q2012 Posted: July 31, 2012 at 08:30 AM (Tuesday)Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.5 percent, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month period ending June 2012, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Wages and salaries (which make up about 70 percent of compensation costs) increased 0.4 percent, and benefits (which make up the remaining 30 percent of ... |
 ICSC Chain Store Sales dropped 1.7% in Jul 28 Wk Posted: July 31, 2012 at 07:45 AM (Tuesday)U.S. chain-store sales rose 1.8 percent year on year for the week that ended on July 28, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and Goldman Sachs. However, on a week-to-week basis, comparable-store sales slumped 1.7 percent.
"After a good start for the month, consumers took a pause at month's end with slower customer traffic and sales across all retail segments," said Michael Niemira, ICSC's vice president of research and chief economist. "Despite the late July softness in sales, the good news ... |
 Texas Manufacturing Activity Posts Slower Growth in July Posted: July 30, 2012 at 10:30 AM (Monday)Texas factory activity continued to increase in July, according to business executives responding to the Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey. The production index, a key measure of state manufacturing conditions, fell from 15.5 to 12, suggesting slightly slower ... |
 Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index Increased 1.1% Posted: July 30, 2012 at 08:30 AM (Monday)The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index (CFMMI) increased 1.1% in June, to a seasonally adjusted level of 94.1 (2007 = 100). Revised data show the index was down 1.4% in May. The Federal Reserve Board’s industrial production index for manufacturing (IPMFG) increased 0.7% in June. Regional output rose 11.0% in June from a year earlier, ... |
 University of Michigan Consumer Confidence slipped to 72.3 Posted: July 27, 2012 at 10:00 AM (Friday)Consumer confidence slipped in July, with all of the overall decline in how consumers viewed future prospects for the national economy. The good news is that consumers do not expect the economic slowdown to prompt an economy-wide recession; the bad news is that consumers do not expect the pace of economic growth to revive job and income ... |
 2Q2012 GDP advance estimate up 1.5% Posted: July 27, 2012 at 08:30 AM (Friday)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 1.5 percent in the second quarter of 2012, (that is, from the first quarter to the second quarter), according to the "advance" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In ... |
 Kansas City Fed Manufacturing Activity Remained Modest Posted: July 26, 2012 at 11:00 AM (Thursday)Growth in Tenth District manufacturing activity remained modest in July, and producers were slightly more optimistic than a month ago. Most price indexes increased after falling somewhat last month and more firms plan to pass these increases along. Several respondents commented on rising materials prices, particularly for agricultural ... |
 Pending Home Sales Index slipped 1.4% Posted: July 26, 2012 at 10:00 AM (Thursday)Pending home sales declined in June but marked 14 consecutive months of year-over-year gains, according to the National Association of Realtors®
The Pending Home Sales Index,* a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, slipped 1.4 percent to 99.3 in June from a downwardly revised 100.7 in May but is 9.5 percent higher than June 2011 when it was 90.7. The data reflect contracts but not closings. ... |
 DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer dropped by -1.0% Posted: July 26, 2012 at 10:00 AM (Thursday)For the week ending July 14, 2012, the DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer dropped by -1.0 percent in reaction to the large increase due to Auto and Truck Production in the prior week. Electric Production decreased largely following a sharp increase in the previous week. Lumber Production also declined after increases for five consecutive weeks. ... |
 Weekly Initial Unemployment Claims Decrease 35,000 to 353,000 Posted: July 26, 2012 at 08:30 AM (Thursday)In the week ending July 21, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 353,000, a decrease of 35,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 388,000. The 4-week moving average was 367,250, a decrease of 8,750 from the previous week's revised average ... |
 New Orders for Durable Goods Increased 1.6%, Ex-Trans Down 1.1% Posted: July 26, 2012 at 08:30 AM (Thursday)New orders for manufactured durable goods in June increased $3.4 billion or 1.6 percent to $221.6 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This increase, up two consecutive months, followed a 1.6 percent May increase. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 1.1 percent. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 0.7 ... |
 New Home Sales in June at annual rate of 350,000 Posted: July 25, 2012 at 10:00 AM (Wednesday)Sales of new single-family houses in June 2012 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 350,000, according to estimates released jointly today by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is 8.4 percent (±12.4%) below the revised May rate of 382,000, but is 15.1 percent (±16.7%) above the June ... |
 Purchase Apps up, Refi's up in Latest MBA Weekly Survey Posted: July 25, 2012 at 07:00 AM (Wednesday)Mortgage applications increased 0.9 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending July 20, 2012.
The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 0.9 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index also increased 0.9 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index increased ... |
 Richmond Fed's Current Activity Index down 16 to -17 Posted: July 24, 2012 at 10:00 AM (Tuesday)The pullback in manufacturing activity in the central Atlantic region deepened in July, after edging lower in June, according to the Richmond Fed's latest seasonally adjusted survey. The index of overall activity was pushed lower as shipments and new orders declined further into negative territory. Employment remained in positive territory, ... |
 ICSC Chain Store Sales rose 1.0% in Jul 21 Wk Posted: July 24, 2012 at 07:45 AM (Tuesday)The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) reported that chain store sales rose 1.0% from the prior week, while increasing 3.3% over the prior-year period during the week ending July 21st, the strongest gain in 5 weeks. “Sales improved over the prior week, but continued a choppy and uneven performance across retail categories,” ... |
 Chicago Fed National Activity Index increased in June Posted: July 23, 2012 at 08:30 AM (Monday)Led by improvements in production-related indicators, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) increased to –0.15 in June from –0.48 in May. Two of the four broad categories of indicators that make up the index improved from May, but only the production and income category made a positive contribution ... |
 June Mass Layoffs total 1,317 actions, 131,406 workers Posted: July 20, 2012 at 10:00 AM (Friday)Employers took 1,317 mass layoff actions in June involving 131,406 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 mass layoff involved at least 50 workers from a single employer. Mass layoff events in June decreased by 63 ... |
 Philadelphia Fed July Outlook Suggest Continued Decreases Posted: July 19, 2012 at 10:00 AM (Thursday)Firms responding to the July Business Outlook Survey continued to report weak business conditions. Although the survey’s indicators for general activity, new orders, and shipments improved from June, they remained negative this month, suggesting overall declines in business. Firms also reported declines in employment this month and shorter ... |
 Existing-Home Sales declined 5.4% in June Posted: July 19, 2012 at 10:00 AM (Thursday)Existing-home prices continued to show gains but sales fell in June with tight supplies of affordable homes limiting first-time buyers, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
Total existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, declined 5.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.37 million in June from an upwardly revised 4.62 million in May, but are 4.5 ... |
 U.S. Leading Economic Index declined 0.3% Posted: July 19, 2012 at 10:00 AM (Thursday)The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the U.S. declined 0.3 percent in June to 95.6 (2004 = 100), following a 0.4 percent increase in May, and a 0.1 percent decline in April.
The U.S. LEI declined in two of the last six months, and its six-month growth rate has eased in the last three months. The strengths among the leading indicators have become less widespread as consumer expectations and manufacturing new orders offset gains in the financial, ... |
 DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer increased by 1.2% Posted: July 19, 2012 at 10:00 AM (Thursday)For the week ending July 7, 2012, the DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer rose significantly by +1.2 percent from the prior week. Auto and Truck Production contributed to the increase in the barometer of the week. This increase is due to several auto makers’ decisions to keep plants open during the annual summer shutdown period to meet a demand ... |
 Weekly Initial Unemployment Claims Increase 34,000 to 386,000 Posted: July 19, 2012 at 08:30 AM (Thursday)In the week ending July 14, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 386,000, an increase of 34,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 352,000. The 4-week moving average was 375,500, a decrease of 1,500 from the previous week's revised average ... |
 Beige Book: Economic Activity Expanded at a Modest to Moderate Pace Posted: July 18, 2012 at 02:00 PM (Wednesday)Reports from most of the twelve Federal Reserve Districts indicated that overall economic activity continued to expand at a modest to moderate pace in June and early July. The Atlanta, St. Louis, and San Francisco Districts reported modest growth, while Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City, and Dallas described economic activity as ... |
 June Housing Starts up 6.9%, Permits down 3.7% Posted: July 18, 2012 at 08:30 AM (Wednesday)BUILDING PERMITS
Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in June were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 755,000. This is 3.7 percent (±1.0%) below the revised May rate of 784,000, but is 19.3 percent (±1.8%) above the June 2011 estimate of 633,000. Single-family authorizations in June were at a rate of 493,000; this ... |
 Purchase Apps up, Refi's up in Latest MBA Weekly Survey Posted: July 18, 2012 at 07:00 AM (Wednesday)Mortgage applications increased 16.9 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending July 13, 2012.
The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 16.9 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 46 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index increased 22 ... |
 Builder Confidence Rises Six Points in July Posted: July 17, 2012 at 10:00 AM (Tuesday)Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes rose six points to 35 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) for July, released today. This is the largest one-month gain recorded by the index in nearly a decade, and brings the HMI to its highest point since March ... |
 Industrial Production increased 0.4%
Capacity Utilization increased to 78.9% Posted: July 17, 2012 at 09:15 AM (Tuesday)Industrial production increased 0.4 percent in June after having declined 0.2 percent in May. In the manufacturing sector, output advanced 0.7 percent in June and reversed a decrease of 0.7 percent in May. In the second quarter of 2012, manufacturing output rose at an annual rate of 1.4 percent, a marked deceleration from its strong gain of ... |
 Treasury International Capital Data for May 2012 Posted: July 17, 2012 at 09:00 AM (Tuesday)The U.S. Department of the Treasury today released Treasury International Capital (TIC) data for May 2012. The sum total in May of all net foreign acquisitions of long-term securities, short-term U.S. securities, and banking flows was a monthly net TIC inflow of $101.7 billion. Of this, net foreign private inflows were $60.3 billion, and ... |
 Consumer Price Index unch% in June, Ex Fd & Engy up 0.1% Posted: July 17, 2012 at 08:30 AM (Tuesday)The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) was unchanged in June on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 1.7 percent before seasonal adjustment.
The energy index continued to fall in June, but its decline was offset by increases ... |
 Real Average Hourly Earnings rose 0.2% in June Posted: July 17, 2012 at 08:30 AM (Tuesday)Real average hourly earnings for all employees rose 0.2 percent from May to June, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This change resulted from a 0.3 percent increase in average hourly earnings combined with an unchanged Consumer Price Index for All Urban ... |
 ICSC Chain Store Sales unch% in Jul 14 Wk Posted: July 17, 2012 at 07:45 AM (Tuesday)The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) reported that chain store sales were unchanged from the prior week, while increasing 2.6% over the prior-year period during the week ending July 14th. According to the ICSC‐GS consumer tracking survey, apparel and department stores saw a pickup customer traffic this past week. Despite ... |
 Business Inventories up 0.3% in May Posted: July 16, 2012 at 10:00 AM (Monday)The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that the combined value of distributive trade sales and manufacturers’ shipments for May, adjusted for seasonal and trading-day differences but not for price changes, was estimated at $1,245.2 billion, down 0.1 percent (±0.2%)* from April 2012 and up 5.1 percent (±0.4%) from ... |
 U.S. Retail Sales for June down 0.5%, Ex-Auto down 0.4% Posted: July 16, 2012 at 08:30 AM (Monday)The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for June, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $401.5 billion, a decrease of 0.5 percent (±0.5%) from the previous month, but 3.8 percent (±0.7%) above June 2011. Total sales ... |
 Empire State Manufacturing Survey Conditions Expands Modestly Posted: July 16, 2012 at 08:30 AM (Monday)The July Empire State Manufacturing Survey indicates that manufacturing activity expanded modestly over the month. The general business conditions index rose five points to 7.4. New orders, however, declined, as that index slipped into negative territory for the first time since November 2011, falling five points to -2.7. The shipments ... |
 Producer Price Index up 0.1% in June, ex Fd & Engy up 0.2% Posted: July 13, 2012 at 08:30 AM (Friday)The Producer Price Index for finished goods increased 0.1 percent in June, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Prices for finished goods moved down 1.0 percent in May and declined 0.2 percent in April. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods decreased ... |
 DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer Unchanged% Posted: July 12, 2012 at 10:00 AM (Thursday)For the week ending June 30, 2012, the DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer stayed at the same level as in the prior week. Auto Production rose by +4.2 percent in contrast with a fall in Truck Production. Railroad Freight Carloadings showed a pickup after decreasing for two consecutive weeks, and Box Office Receipts jumped by +8.3 percent. Chain ... |
 Weekly Initial Unemployment Claims Decrease 26,000 to 350,000 Posted: July 12, 2012 at 08:30 AM (Thursday)In the week ending July 7, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 350,000, a decrease of 26,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 376,000. The 4-week moving average was 376,500, a decrease of 9,750 from the previous week's revised average ... |
 U.S. Import Price Index Dropped 2.7% in June Posted: July 12, 2012 at 08:30 AM (Thursday)U.S. import prices fell 2.7 percent in June, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, following a 1.2 percent decrease in May. Lower prices for both fuel and nonfuel imports contributed to the overall decline. U.S. export prices fell 1.7 percent in June after a 0.4 percent drop the ... |
 Wholesale Inventories up 0.3% in May Posted: July 11, 2012 at 10:00 AM (Wednesday)The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that May 2012 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 $409.6 billion, down 0.8 percent (+/-0.5) from the revised April level, but were up 5.7 percent (+/-0.9%) from ... |
 Goods and Services Deficit Decreased in May 2012 Posted: July 11, 2012 at 08:30 AM (Wednesday)The Nation’s international trade deficit in goods and services decreased to $48.7 billion in May from $50.6 billion in April (revised), as exports increased and imports decreased.
The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the Department of Commerce, announced today that total May exports of $183.1 billion and imports of $231.8 billion resulted in a goods and services deficit of $48.7 billion, down from $50.6 billion in ... |
 Purchase Apps down, Refi's down in Latest MBA Weekly Survey Posted: July 11, 2012 at 07:00 AM (Wednesday)Mortgage applications decreased 2.1 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending July 6, 2012. This week’s results include an adjustment for the Fourth of July holiday.
The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 2.1 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 22 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index decreased 3 ... |
 Job Openings were 3.6 million in May Posted: July 10, 2012 at 10:00 AM (Tuesday)There were 3.6 million job openings on the last business day of May, little changed from 3.4 million in April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The hires rate (3.3 percent) and separations rate (3.3 percent) were essentially unchanged in May. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, ... |
 NFIB Small Business Optimism Index down 3 points to 91.4 Posted: July 10, 2012 at 07:45 AM (Tuesday)There was no good news in the June survey. The Small Business Optimism Index posted a decline of 3 points, falling to 91.4. This is a clear indication of slow growth. Only one of the ten Index components improved, expected credit conditions. Labor market indicators, spending plans for capital equipment and inventories took a drubbing, ... |
 ICSC Chain Store Sales rose 2.0% in Jul 7 Wk Posted: July 10, 2012 at 07:45 AM (Tuesday)The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) reported that chain store sales spiked up 2.0% from the prior week, while accelerating to a 3.0% pace over the prior-year period during the week ending July 7th. “This past week featured a number of factors – extreme hot weather, Independence Day and vacations – all of which helped to spur ... |
 Consumer credit increased at an annual rate of 8.00% Posted: July 9, 2012 at 03:37 PM (Monday)Consumer credit increased at an annual rate of 8 percent in May. Revolving credit increased at an annual rate of 11-1/4 percent, while nonrevolving credit increased at an annual rate of 6-1/2 percent.
... |
 Employment Trends Index Dipped in June to 107.47 Posted: July 9, 2012 at 10:00 AM (Monday)The Conference Board Employment Trends Index™ (ETI) dipped to 107.47 in June, down from the revised figure of 108.23 in May. The June figure is 5.6 percent higher than a year ago.
The Employment Trends Index has been flat since February, suggesting that slow employment growth is likely to continue through the summer. Since there is little hope of acceleration in the pace of economic activity any time soon, these weak labor market conditions are ... |