The Chicago Purchasing Managers reported October's Chicago Business Barometer idled, up just 0.2 to a still contractionary 49.9. Business Activity measures reflected weakness in five of seven indexes, most notably as the rate of expansion in Production and Employment slowed while New Orders stalled near neutral and Order Backlogs remained ...

Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.4 percent, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month period ending September 2012, 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, and benefits (which make up the remaining 30 percent of ...

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending October 26, mortgage applications decreased 4.8 percent from one week earlier.

The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 4.8 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On ...

Data through August 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 average home prices increased by 0.9% for both the 10- and 20-City Composites in August versus July 2012. Nineteen of the 20 cities and both Composites posted positive monthly gains ...

The ICSC-Goldman Sachs (ICSC-GS) chain store sales index for the week ending October 27 rose by 0.5% from the prior week, while its year-over-year sales momentum decelerated to 2.7%. The ICSC-GS consumer tracking survey found that overall customer traffic was lower than during the same week of the prior year, but grocery and apparel stores ...

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, dipped from 10 to 7.9, indicating slightly slower growth.

Most other measures of current manufacturing activity also suggested growth in October, although new orders declined. The capacity utilization index edged up from 9.3 to 11.4, with more than one-quarter of manufacturers noting an increase. The shipments index held steady at ...

Personal income increased $48.1 billion, or 0.4 percent, and disposable personal income (DPI) increased $43.0 billion, or 0.4 percent, in September, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $87.9 billion, or 0.8 percent. In August, personal income increased $17.8 billion, or 0.1 percent, ...

The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index (CFMMI) decreased 0.4% in September, to a seasonally adjusted level of 93.4 (2007 = 100). Revised data show the index was down 1.8% in August. The Federal Reserve Board’s industrial production index for manufacturing (IPMFG) increased 0.2% in September. Regional output rose 8.5% in September from a ...

Consumers were more optimistic in the most recent survey about prospects for their own personal finances, anticipated continued improvement in the national economy, and expected the unemployment rate to decline significantly during the year ahead. Overall, consumers were more confident about economic prospects in October than any other time ...

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 2012 (that is, from the second quarter to the third quarter), according to the "advance" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In ...

Tenth District manufacturing activity declined slightly in October, and producers' expectations for future activity fell considerably but remained slightly positive. Several producers commented on growing uncertainty related to the upcoming election and fiscal situation, which has put a hold on many customers' orders and spending. Price ...

Pending home sales were little changed in September but remain well above a year ago, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, edged up 0.3 percent to 99.5 in September from 99.2 in August and is 14.5 percent above September 2011 when it was 86.9. The data reflect contracts but not closings. ...

For the week ending October 13, 2012, the DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer decreased slightly by 0.1 percent following a 0.4 percent increase in the prior week. This week’s modest drop results from declines and leveling-off seen in a number of industries. Auto and Truck Production decreased again after picking up in the previous week. ...

In the week ending October 20, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 369,000, a decrease of 23,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 392,000. The 4-week moving average was 368,000, an increase of 1,500 from the previous week's revised average ...

New orders for manufactured durable goods in September increased $19.6 billion or 9.9 percent to $218.2 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This increase, up four of the last five months, followed a 13.1 percent August decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 2.0 percent. Excluding defense, new orders increased ...

Led by improvements in production-related indicators, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) increased to 0.00 in September from –1.17 in August. All four broad categories of indicators that make up the index increased from August, and each one except the consumption and housing category made a positive contribution to the index ...

Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in September suggests that economic activity has continued to expand at a moderate pace in recent months. Growth in employment has been slow, and the unemployment rate remains elevated. Household spending has advanced a bit more quickly, but growth in business fixed investment ...

Sales of new single-family houses in September 2012 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 389,000, according to estimates released jointly today by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is 5.7 percent (±14.8%) above the revised August rate of 368,000 and is 27.1 percent (±19.3%) above the ...

Mortgage applications decreased 12.0 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending October 19, 2012.

The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 12.0 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier, but that week included an upward adjustment for the Columbus Day holiday. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 2 ...

Manufacturing activity in the central Atlantic region pulled back in October after improving somewhat last month, according to the Richmond Fed's latest survey. The seasonally adjusted index of overall activity was pushed lower as all broad indicators of activity — shipments, new orders and employment — were in negative territory. Other ...

Employers took 1,316 mass layoff actions in September involving 122,462 workers as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Data are seasonally adjusted.) Each mass layoff involved at least 50 workers from a single employer. Mass layoff events in ...

The ICSC‐Goldman Sachs (ICSC‐GS) chain store sales index for the week ending October 6 rose by 0.2% from the prior week and its year‐over‐year momentum improved modestly to 2.8% from 2.4% in the prior week. The ICSC‐GS consumer tracking survey found that overall customer traffic weakened during the past week compared with the same week of ...

September existing-home sales declined modestly, but inventory continued to tighten and the national median home price recorded its seventh back-to-back monthly increase from a year earlier, 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, fell 1.7 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.75 million in September from an upwardly revised 4.83 million in August, but are 11.0 ...

Firms responding to the October Business Outlook Survey reported a modest improvement in business activity this month. The survey’s indicators for general activity returned to positive territory, while new orders and shipments recorded levels near zero. But firms reported continuing declines in employment and hours worked. Indicators for ...

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the U.S. increased 0.6 percent in September to 95.9 (2004 = 100), following a 0.4 percent decline in August, and a 0.4 percent increase in July.

The U.S. LEI increased in September, more than offsetting the decline in August. The LEI has been signaling an economy that is fluctuating around a slow growth trend. The six-month growth rate has slowed substantially, but still remains in growth territory due to positive ...

For the week ending October 6, 2012, the DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer increased by 0.4 percent following a 0.1 percent drop in the prior week. A moderate rise this week is due to rebound seen in most of the industries. Auto and Truck Production picked up by 3.3 and 4.0 percent, respectively, after both dropping by 0.5 percent. Also ...

In the week ending October 13, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 388,000, an increase of 46,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 342,000. The 4-week moving average was 365,500, an increase of 750 from the previous week's revised average ...

BUILDING PERMITS
Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in September were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 894,000. This is 11.6 percent (±1.1%) above the revised August rate of 801,000 and is 45.1 percent (±1.8%) above the September 2011 estimate of 616,000. Single-family authorizations in September were at a rate ...

Mortgage applications decreased 4.2 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending October 12, 2012. This week’s results include an adjustment to account for the Columbus ...

Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes edged slightly higher for a sixth consecutive month in October, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released today. The latest, one-point gain brings the index to 41, its strongest level since June ...

Industrial production rose 0.4 percent in September after having fallen 1.4 percent in August. For the third quarter as a whole, industrial production declined at an annual rate of 0.4 percent. Manufacturing output increased 0.2 percent in September but moved down at an annual rate of 0.9 percent in the third quarter. Production at mines ...

The U.S. Department of the Treasury today released Treasury International Capital (TIC) data for August 2012. The sum total in August of all net foreign acquisitions of long-term securities, short-term U.S. securities, and banking flows was a monthly net TIC inflow of $91.4 billion. Of this, net foreign private inflows were $50.0 billion, and ...

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.6 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 2.0 percent before seasonal adjustment.

For the second month in a row, the substantial increase in the all ...

Real average hourly earnings for all employees fell 0.3 percent from August to September, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. A 0.3 percent increase in average hourly earnings was more than offset by a 0.6 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban ...

The ICSC‐Goldman Sachs (ICSC‐GS) chain store sales index for the week ending October 13 was unchanged from the prior week, while its year‐over‐year sales momentum remained relatively steady. The ICSC‐GS consumer tracking survey found that overall customer traffic was relatively steady as well during the past week, but compositionally ...

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 $1,246.6 billion, up 0.5 percent (±0.2%) from July 2012 and up 3.1percent (±0.3%) 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 $412.9 billion, an increase of 1.1 percent (±0.5%) from the previous month and 5.4 percent (±0.7%) above September 2011. ...

The October Empire State Manufacturing Survey indicates that conditions for New York manufacturers continued to decline for a third consecutive month. The general business conditions index increased four points but remained negative at -6.2. The new orders index rose five points to -9.0, while the shipments index fell nine points to -6.4, ...

The Producer Price Index for finished goods rose 1.1 percent in September, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Prices for finished goods advanced 1.7 percent in August and moved up 0.3 percent in July. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods rose 1.5 ...

For the week ending September 29, 2012, the DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer decreased slightly by 0.1 percent following no change in the prior week. A small drop in this week reflected a decrease in Steel Production which declined by 1.8 percent after increases for three consecutive weeks. Also Auto and Truck Production both decreased slightly ...

In the week ending October 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 339,000, a decrease of 30,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 369,000. The 4-week moving average was 364,000, a decrease of 11,500 from the previous week's revised average ...

The Nation’s international trade balance in goods and services worsened to -$44.2 billion in August from $42.5 billion in July (revised), as exports decreased more than imports.

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 $181.3 billion and imports of $225.5 billion resulted in a goods and services deficit of $44.2 billion, up from $42.5 billion in ...

U.S. import prices advanced 1.1 percent for the second consecutive month in September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, after falling the previous four months. The increase in each of the past two months was led by rising fuel prices. The price index for U.S. exports rose 0.8 percent in September following a 1.0 percent ...

Reports from the twelve Federal Reserve Districts indicated that economic activity generally expanded modestly since the last report. The New York District noted a leveling off in economic activity, and Kansas City indicated some slowing in the pace of growth. In general, other Districts reported that growth continued at a ...

There were 3.6 million job openings on the last business day of August, essentially unchanged from July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The hires rate (3.3 percent) and separations rate (3.3 percent) were little changed in August. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and ...

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that August 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 $405.4 billion, up 0.9 percent (+/-0.7) from the revised July level and were up 2.1 percent (+/-0.9%) from ...

Mortgage applications decreased 1.4 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending October 5, 2012.

The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 1.4 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 1 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index decreased 2 ...

The Conference Board Employment Trends Index™ (ETI) decreased again in September, following a downward revision in August. The index now stands at 107.86, down from the revised figure of 108.23 in August. The September figure is 5.4 percent higher than a year ago.

In September, the Employment Trends Index declined for the third time in four months, suggesting that employment growth will weaken further in the fourth quarter. The U.S. economy entered a soft patch in the spring and the result has been lackluster job growth, which is ...

The ICSC‐Goldman Sachs (ICSC‐GS) chain store sales index for the week ending October 6 rose by 0.2% from the prior week and its year‐over‐year momentum improved modestly to 2.8% from 2.4% in the prior week. The ICSC‐GS consumer tracking survey found that overall customer traffic weakened during the past week compared with the same week of ...

The Optimism Index lost 0.1 points, falling to 92.8. Since monthly surveys were started in 1986, the Index has been below 93.0 fifty-six times, and 32 of those low readings have occurred since the recovery began in June 2009. News on the economy didn’t really change and neither did business owner’s views of the future for the economy – it’s ...