Online advertised vacancies declined 138,500 to 5,280,200 in September, according to The Conference Board Help Wanted OnLine® (HWOL) Data Series,released today. The August Supply/Demand rate stands at 1.48 unemployed for each advertised vacancy with a total of 2.6 million more unemployed workers than the number of advertised vacancies. The ...

The Chicago Business Barometer declined 5.7 points to 48.7 in September as Production growth collapsed and New Orders fell sharply.

The drop in the Barometer to below 50 was its fifth time in contraction this year and comes amid downgrades to global economic growth and intense volatility in financial markets which have slowed activity in some industries. The latest decline followed two months of ...

Private sector employment increased by 200,000 jobs from August to September according to the September ADP National Employment Report®. Broadly distributed to the public each month, free of charge, the ADP National Employment Report is produced by ADP® in collaboration with Moody’s Analytics. The report, which is derived from ADP’s actual ...

Mortgage applications decreased 6.7 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending September 25, 2015.

The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 6.7 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 7 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index decreased 8 ...

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®, which had increased in August, improved moderately in September. The Index now stands at 103.0 (1985=100), up from 101.3 in August. The Present Situation Index increased from 115.8 last month to 121.1 in September, while the Expectations Index edged down to 91.0 from 91.6 ...

S&P Dow Jones Indices today released the latest results for the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, the leading measure of U.S. home prices. Data released today for July 2015 show that home prices continued their rise across the country over the last 12 months.

Year-over-Year
The S&P/Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index, covering all nine U.S. census divisions, recorded a slightly higher year-over-year gain with a 4.7% annual increase in July 2015 versus a 4.5% increase in June 2015. The 10-City Composite was virtually ...

The Paychex | IHS Small Business Jobs Index decreased slightly in September, moving from 100.48 to 100.44. After increasing the first quarter of 2015, the pace of employment growth has moderated during the second and third quarters of 2015. The Mountain region was the top-performing regional index. Texas surpassed Washington and Georgia to ...

Texas factory activity was essentially flat in September, according to business executives responding to the Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey. The production index, a key measure of state manufacturing conditions, remained near zero (0.9), suggesting output held steady for a second month in a row after several months ...

Pending home sales retreated in August but remained at a healthy level of activity and have now risen year–over–year for 12 consecutive months, according to the National Association of Realtors®. A modest increase in the West was offset by declines in all other regions.

The Pending Home Sales Index,* a forward–looking indicator based on contract signings, decreased 1.4 percent to 109.4 in August from 110.9 in July but is still 6.1 percent above August 2014 (103.1). ...

Personal income increased $52.5 billion, or 0.3 percent, and disposable personal income (DPI) increased $47.1 billion, or 0.4 percent, in August, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $54.9 billion, or 0.4 percent. In July, personal income increased $69.6 billion, or 0.5 percent, ...

The decline in optimism continued to narrow in late September as consumers increasingly concluded that the stock market declines had more to do with international conditions than the domestic economy. While the September Sentiment Index was at the lowest level in eleven months, it was still higher than in any prior month since May 2007. ...

Real gross domestic product -- the value of the goods and services produced by the nation’s economy less the value of the goods and services used up in production, adjusted for price changes -- increased at an annual rate of 3.9 percent in the second quarter of 2015, according to the "third" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. ...

Tenth District manufacturing activity declined at a similar pace as in previous months, while expectations for future activity dropped considerably. Producers continued to cite weak oil and gas activity along with a strong dollar as key reasons for the sluggish activity. Most price indexes fell from the ...

Sales of new single-family houses in August 2015 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 552,000, 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 (±16.2%) above the revised July rate of 522,000 and is 21.6 percent (±18.7%) above the August ...

For the week ending September 12 2015, the BTMU U.S. Business Barometer dipped by 0.4 percent to 98.8, after expanding for two consecutive weeks. This week’s barometer was mainly driven by weak performances in consumption indexes, in which chain store sales decreased by 3.1 percent because business was broadly weak. MBA’s purchase also showed ...

New orders for manufactured durable goods in August decreased $4.8 billion or 2.0 percent to $236.3 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This decrease, down following two consecutive monthly increases, followed a 1.9 percent July increase. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased less than $0.1 billion, or virtually ...

The index’s three-month moving average, CFNAI-MA3, ticked down to +0.01 in August from +0.02 in July. August’s CFNAI-MA3 suggests that growth in national economic activity was very close to its historical trend. The economic growth reflected in this level of the CFNAI-MA3 suggests limited inflationary pressure from economic activity over ...

In the week ending September 19, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 267,000, an increase of 3,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 264,000. The 4-week moving average was 271,750, a decrease of 750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 272,500. There were no special factors impacting this week's ...

Mortgage applications increased 13.9 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending September 18, 2015. The previous week's results included an adjustment for the Labor ...

Responses to this month's Nonmanufacturing Business Outlook Survey suggest that regional nonmanufacturing activity continued to improve in September. Readings for current activity at both the regional and firm levels, new orders, and sales were positive and increased from last month. Responding firms continue to be highly optimistic about ...

Fifth District manufacturing activity slowed in September, according to the most recent survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Order backlogs and new orders decreased, while shipments declined. Average wages continued to increase at a moderate pace this month, however manufacturing employment grew mildly. Prices of raw materials ...

Following three straight months of gains, existing–home sales dipped in August despite slowing price growth and a positive turnaround in the share of sales to first–time buyers, according to the National Association of Realtors®. None of the four major regions experienced sales increases ...

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the U.S. increased 0.1 percent in August to 123.7 (2010 = 100), following no change in July, and a 0.6 percent increase in June.

The U.S. LEI suggests economic growth will remain moderate into the New Year, with little reason to expect growth to pick up substantially. Average working hours and new orders in manufacturing have been weak, pointing to more slow growth in the industrial sector. However, ...

Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in July suggests that economic activity is expanding at a moderate pace. Household spending and business fixed investment have been increasing moderately, and the housing sector has improved further; however, net exports have been soft. The labor market continued to improve, ...

Manufacturing conditions in the region were mixed in September, according to firms responding to this month’s Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey. The indicator for general activity fell into negative territory, but indicators for new orders, shipments, and employment remained positive. Evidence suggests that the responses regarding ...

For the week ending September 5 2015, the BTMU U.S. Business Barometer increased by 0.1 percent to 99.2. This week’s barometer was chiefly driven by strong performance in chain store sales, which posted a robust gain of 0.7 percent (mainly fuelled by strong business gains for dollar stores). As to the production side, gains in some indexes ...

The U.S. current-account deficit—a net measure of transactions between the United States and the rest of the world in goods, services, primary income (investment income and compensation), and secondary income (current transfers)—decreased to $109.7 billion (preliminary) in the second quarter of 2015 from $118.3 billion (revised) in the ...

BUILDING PERMITS
Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,170,000. This is 3.5 percent (±1.4%) above the revised July rate of 1,130,000 and is 12.5 percent (±1.9%) above the August 2014 estimate of 1,040,000. Single-family authorizations in August were at a rate ...

In the week ending September 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 264,000, a decrease of 11,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 275,000. The 4-week moving average was 272,500, a decrease of 3,250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 275,750. There were no special factors impacting this ...

The U.S. Department of the Treasury today released Treasury International Capital (TIC) data for July 2015. The sum total in July of all net foreign acquisitions of long-term securities, short-term U.S. securities, and banking flows was a monthly net TIC inflow of $141.9 billion. Of this, net foreign private inflows were $164.2 billion, and ...

Builder confidence in the market for newly constructed single-family homes continued its steady rise in September with a one point increase to a level of 62 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). It is the highest reading since ...

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) decreased 0.1 percent in August on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index rose 0.2 percent before seasonal adjustment.

The gasoline index declined sharply in August and was the main cause of the seasonally adjusted all items decrease. Other energy indexes were mixed, with the fuel oil index continuing to decline but the indexes for electricity and natural gas increasing in August. The food ...

Real average hourly earnings for all employees increased 0.5 percent from July to August, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This result stems from a 0.3-percent increase in average hourly earnings combined with a 0.1-percent decrease in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban ...

Mortgage applications decreased 7.0 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending September 11, 2015. The week's results included an adjustment for the Labor ...

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that the combined value of distributive trade sales and manufacturers’ shipments for July, adjusted for seasonal and trading-day differences but not for price changes, was estimated at $1,328.0 billion, up 0.1 percent (±0.2%) from June 2015, but was down 2.7 percent (±0.5%) from ...

Industrial production decreased 0.4 percent in August after increasing 0.9 percent in July. The increase in July is now estimated to be greater than originally reported last month, largely as a result of upward revisions for mining and utilities. Manufacturing output fell 0.5 percent in August primarily because of a large drop in motor ...

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for August, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $447.7 billion, an increase of 0.2 percent (±0.5%) from the previous month, and 2.2 percent (±0.7%) above August 2014. Total ...

The September 2015 Empire State Manufacturing Survey indicates that business activity declined for a second consecutive month for New York manufacturers. The headline general business conditions index remained well below zero at -14.7. As in August, declines were reported for both orders and shipments, with the new orders index coming in at ...

The Producer Price Index for final demand was unchanged in August, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Final demand prices rose 0.2 percent in July and 0.4 percent in June. On an unadjusted basis, the final demand index moved down 0.8 percent for the 12 months ended in August, the seventh straight ...

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that July 2015 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 $449.5 billion, down 0.3 percent (+/-0.5) from the revised June level and were down 4.2 percent (+/-1.4%) ...

For the week ending August 29 2015, the BTMU U.S. Business Barometer increased by 0.1 percent to 99.1, following a fall of 0.1 percent in the previous week. This week’s barometer was mainly driven by strong performances in consumer indexes. The largest contribution to this week’s recovery came from MBA’s purchase index, which rose by 4.1 ...

U.S. import prices declined 1.8 percent in August following a 0.9 percent drop the previous month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The August decrease was primarily driven by lower fuel prices, although falling nonfuel prices contributed to the decline as well. Prices for U.S. exports also fell in August, decreasing ...

In the week ending September 5, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 275,000, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 1,000 from 282,000 to 281,000. The 4-week moving average was 275,750, an increase of 500 from the previous week's revised average. ...

The number of job openings again rose to a series high of 5.8 million on the last business day of July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The number of hires and separations edged down to 5.0 million and 4.7 million, respectively. Within separations, the quits rate was 1.9 percent for the fourth month in a row, and the ...

Mortgage applications decreased 6.2 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending September 4, 2015.

The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 6.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 7 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index decreased 10 ...

In July, consumer credit increased at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6-3/4 percent. Revolving credit increased at an annual rate of 5-3/4 percent, while nonrevolving credit increased at an annual rate of 7 percent.

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The Conference Board Employment Trends Index™ (ETI) increased in August for a second consecutive month. The index now stands at 128.82, up from 127.64 in June (a downward revision). The change represents a 4.5 percent gain in the ETI compared to a year ago.

The large increase in the Employment Trends Index in August suggests that a significant moderation in employment growth is unlikely to occur in the coming months. With solid job growth expected to continue, the unemployment rate is likely to go below 5 percent by year’s ...

The Index of Small Business Optimism went nowhere in August, so the good news is it did not fall. Two Index components, job openings and earnings trends both posted a solid 4 point gain, but there was not much action in the remaining components. Five components posted gains, 3 fell and 2 were unchanged. The Index reading of 95.9 was again ...

Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 173,000 in August, and the unemployment rate edged down to 5.1 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Job gains occurred in health care and social assistance and in financial activities. Manufacturing and mining ...

Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in August for the 67th consecutive month, say the nation’s purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®.

The NMI® registered 59 percent in August, 1.3 percentage points lower than the July reading of 60.3 percent. This represents continued ...