The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® decreased in November, following an increase in October. The Index now stands at 109.5 (1985=100), down from 111.6 in October. The Present Situation Index—based on consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions—fell to 142.5 from 145.5 last month. The Expectations ...

The Chicago Business BarometerTM, produced with MNI, fell to 61.8 in November, the lowest reading since February, driven by a slow-down in new orders.

Among the five main indicators, Inventories saw the largest increase, followed by Production. All other indicators dropped compared to October, with Order Backlogs seeing the largest decline. ...

Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI) today released the latest results for the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices, the leading measure of U.S. home prices. Data released today for September 2021 show that home prices continue to increase across the U.S.

YEAR-OVER-YEAR
The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index, covering all nine U.S. census divisions, reported a 19.5% annual gain in September, down from 19.8% in the previous month. The 10-City Composite annual increase came in at 17.8%, down from ...

Wage growth reached a new high for the employees of small businesses in the U.S. in November, according to aggregated payroll data of approximately 350,000 Paychex clients with fewer than 50 employees. The data released in the latest Paychex | IHS Markit Small Business Employment Watch shows hourly earnings growth improved to 4.07 percent, ...

Texas factory activity increased at a faster pace in November, according to business executives responding to the Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey. The production index, a key measure of state manufacturing conditions, rose nine points to 27.4, a reading well above average and indicative of robust ...

Pending home sales increased in October, rebounding after a decline the month prior, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Contract activity rose month-over-month in each of the four major U.S. regions. On a year-over-year basis, however, transactions were split, as two regions reported drops and two others ...

New Home Sales
Sales of new single‐family houses in October 2021 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 745,000, according to estimates released jointly today by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is 0.4 percent (±21.1 percent)* above the revised September rate of 742,000, but is 23.1 ...

Consumers expressed less optimism than any other time in the past decade, including more negative prospects for their own finances as well as for the overall economy, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers.

The decline was due to rapidly escalating inflation combined with the absence of federal policies that would effectively curb a surging inflation rate, said U-M economist Richard Curtin, director of the surveys. While pandemic induced supply-line shortages were the ...

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 2.1 percent in the third quarter of 2021 (table 1), according to the "second" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the second quarter, real GDP increased 6.7 percent.

The GDP estimate released today is based on more complete source data than were available for the "advance" estimate issued last month. In the advance estimate, the increase in real GDP was 2.0 percent. The update primarily reflects upward revisions to personal consumption ...

New Orders
New orders for manufactured durable goods in October decreased $1.2 billion or 0.5 percent to $260.1 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This decrease, down two consecutive months, followed a 0.4 percent September decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.5 percent. Excluding defense, new orders ...

In the week ending November 20, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 199,000, a decrease of 71,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since November 15, 1969 when it was 197,000. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 268,000 to 270,000. The 4-week ...

Personal income increased $93.4 billion (0.5 percent) in October according to estimates released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (tables 3 and 5). Disposable personal income (DPI) increased $63.0 billion (0.3 percent) and personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $214.3 billion ...

Mortgage applications increased 1.8 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending November 19, 2021.

The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 1.8 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 0.1 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index increased 0.4 ...

the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. The composite index inched down from 12 in October to 11 in November but remained in expansionary territory. All three component indexes — shipments, new orders, and employment — continued to reflect growth. However, many firms reported that inventories were too low, as the index for finished goods ...

Nonmanufacturing business activity expanded this month, according to the firms responding to the November Nonmanufacturing Business Outlook Survey. The indexes for general activity at the firm level, new orders, and sales/revenues all increased this month. The full- and part-time employment indexes remained positive, and the prices paid and ...

Existing-home sales increased in October, marking two straight months of growth, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Two of the four major U.S. regions saw month-over-month sales climb, one region reported a drop and the fourth area held steady in October. On a year-over-year basis, each region witnessed ...

Led by improvements in production-related indicators, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) rose to +0.76 in October from –0.18 in September. All four broad categories of indicators used to construct the index made positive contributions in October, and all four categories improved from September. The index’s three-month moving ...

Tenth District manufacturing growth eased slightly, but expectations for future activity remained strong. The monthly index of raw materials prices dipped from a survey record high in October, but remained high, and almost every firm continued to report higher input prices compared to a year ago. Finished goods price indexes rose from a month ...

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI)for the U.S. increased by 0.9 percent in October to 118.3 (2016 = 100), following a 0.1 percent increase in September and a 0.7 percent increase in August.

“The U.S. LEI rose sharply in October suggesting the current economic expansion will continue into 2022 and may even gain some momentum in the final months of this year,” said Ataman Ozyildirim, Senior Director of Economic Research at The Conference Board. “Gains were ...

In the week ending November 13, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 268,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since March 14, 2020 when it was 256,000. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 267,000 to 269,000. The 4-week moving ...

Manufacturing activity in the region continued to grow, according to the firms responding to the November Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey. The survey's current indicators for general activity, shipments, and new orders all rose from October's readings. The employment index declined but remained elevated, and price indexes indicate ...

Building Permits
Privately‐owned housing units authorized by building permits in October were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,650,000. This is 4.0 percent (±1.5 percent) above the revised September rate of 1,586,000 and is 3.4 percent (±1.6 percent) above the October 2020 rate of 1,595,000. Single‐family authorizations in October were ...

Mortgage applications decreased 2.8 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending November 12, 2021.

The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 2.8 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 4 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index decreased 5 ...

The U.S. Department of the Treasury today released Treasury International Capital (TIC) data for September 2021. The sum total in September of all net foreign acquisitions of long-term securities, short-term U.S. securities, and banking flows was a net TIC outflow of $26.8 billion. Of this, net foreign private outflows were $22.6 billion, and ...

Low existing inventories and strong buyer demand helped push builder confidence higher for the third consecutive month even as supply-side challenges – including building material bottlenecks and lot and labor shortages – remain stubbornly persistent. Builder sentiment in the market for newly built single-family homes moved three points higher ...

The combined value of distributive trade sales and manufacturers’ shipments for September, adjusted for seasonal and trading day differences but not for price changes, was estimated at $1,669.7 billion, up 0.9 percent (±0.2 percent) from August 2021 and was up 15.5 percent (±0.6 percent) from ...

Industrial production rose 1.6 percent in October after falling 1.3 percent in September; about half of the gain in October reflected a recovery from the effects of Hurricane Ida. Manufacturing output increased 1.2 percent in October; excluding a large gain in the production of motor vehicles and parts, factory output moved up 0.6 percent. ...

Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for October 2021, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $638.2 billion, an increase of 1.7 percent (±0.5 percent) from the previous month, and 16.3 percent (±0.9 percent) above October 2020. Total sales for the August ...

U.S. import prices rose 1.2 percent in October following a 0.4 percent advance in September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Higher fuel and nonfuel prices contributed to the October increase. Prices for U.S. exports advanced 1.5 percent in October, after rising 0.4 percent in September and 0.3 percent ...

The U.S. economy looks weaker now than it did in August, according to 37 forecasters surveyed by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. The forecasters predict real GDP will grow at an annual rate of 4.6 percent this quarter and 3.9 percent next quarter, down 0.6 percentage point each from the prediction in the last survey. Using ...

Business activity grew strongly in New York State, according to firms responding to the November 2021 Empire State Manufacturing Survey. The headline general business conditions index climbed eleven points to 30.9. New orders and shipments posted substantial increases, and unfilled orders rose. Delivery times were significantly longer. ...

The number of job openings was little changed at 10.4 million on the last business day of September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Hires and total separations were little changed at 6.5 million and 6.2 million, respectively. Within separations, the quits level and rate increased to a series high of 4.4 million and ...

Consumer sentiment fell in early November to its lowest level in a decade due to an escalating inflation rate and the growing belief among consumers that no effective policies have yet been developed to reduce the damage from surging inflation. One-in-four consumers cited inflationary reductions in their living standards in November, with ...

September 2021 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 $603.1 billion, up 1.1 percent (±0.5 percent) from the revised August level and were up 22.0 percent (±1.8 percent) from the revised September ...

The Conference Board®−Burning Glass® Help Wanted OnLine® (HWOL) Index fell slightly in October and now stands at 164.4 (July 2018=100), down from 165.2 in September. The 0.49 percent decline between September and October follows a 4.1 percent increase between August and September. Overall, the Index is up 57.3 percent from a ...

In the week ending November 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 267,000, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since March 14, 2020 when it was 256,000. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 269,000 to 271,000. The 4-week moving ...

All employees
Real average hourly earnings for all employees decreased 0.5 percent from September to October, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This result stems from an increase of 0.4 percent in average hourly earnings combined with an increase of 0.9 percent in the Consumer Price Index for All ...

he Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.9 percent in October on a seasonally adjusted basis after rising 0.4 percent in September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 6.2 percent before ...

Mortgage applications increased 5.5 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending November 5, 2021.

The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 5.5 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 5 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index increased 7 ...

The Producer Price Index for final demand increased 0.6 percent in October, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Final demand prices moved up 0.5 percent in September and 0.7 percent in August. (See table A.) On an unadjusted basis, the final demand index rose 8.6 percent for the 12 months ended ...

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index decreased slightly in October by 0.9 points to 98.2. One of the 10 Index components improved, seven declined, and two were unchanged.

“Small business owners are attempting to take advantage of current economic growth but remain pessimistic about business conditions in the near future,” said NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg. “One of the biggest problems for small businesses is the lack of workers for ...

The Conference Board Employment Trends Index™ (ETI) rose sharply in October. The index now stands at 112.23, up from 109.68 in September.

“The increase in the Employment Trends Index suggests strong employment growth is in store over the next several months,” said Gad Levanon, Head of The Conference Board Labor Markets Institute. “As the negative economic impact of the Delta variant subsides, spending on—and ...

Consumer credit increased at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.6 percent during the third quarter. Revolving credit increased at an annual rate of 7.4 percent, while nonrevolving credit increased at an annual rate of 5.1 percent. In September, consumer credit increased at an annual rate of ...

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 531,000 in October, and the unemployment rate edged down by 0.2 percentage point to 4.6 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Job growth was widespread, with notable job gains in leisure and hospitality, in professional and business services, in manufacturing, and in ...

Nonfarm business sector labor productivity decreased 5.0 percent in the third quarter of 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, as output increased 1.7 percent and hours worked increased 7.0 percent. This is the lowest rate of quarterly productivity growth since the second quarter of 1981, when the measure decreased 5.1 ...

In the week ending October 30, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 269,000, a decrease of 14,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since March 14, 2020 when it was 256,000. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 281,000 to 283,000. The 4-week moving ...

The nation's international trade deficit in goods and services increased to $80.9 billion in September from $72.8 billion in August (revised), as imports increased and exports decreased. The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced today that the goods and services deficit was $80.9 billion in September, up ...

Job cuts announced by U.S.-based employers rose 27.5% in October to 22,822 from the 17,895 announced in September. It is the highest monthly total since May, when 24,586 cuts were recorded, according to a report released Thursday from global outplacement and business and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, ...

The Federal Reserve is committed to using its full range of tools to support the U.S. economy in this challenging time, thereby promoting its maximum employment and price stability goals.

With progress on vaccinations and strong policy support, indicators of economic activity and employment have continued to strengthen. The sectors most adversely affected by the pandemic have improved in recent months, but the summer's rise in COVID-19 cases has slowed their ...

Summary
New orders for manufactured goods in September, up sixteen of the last seventeen months, increased $1.3 billion or 0.2 percent to $515.9 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 1.0 percent August increase. Shipments, also up sixteen of the last seventeen months, increased $3.2 billion or 0.6 percent to ...