The Chicago Business BarometerTM, produced with MNI, increased by 7.7 points to 44.9 in December. This month’s recovery broke a three-month streak of falls, yet the index remained contractive for a fourth consecutive month.

The majority of sub-indexes improved over the month, led by Order Backlogs and New Orders whilst upticks in Production and Supplier Deliveries were more muted. Inventories, Employment and Prices Paid all weakened and only Order Backlogs, Supplier Deliveries and Prices Paid ...

In the week ending December 24, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 225,000, an increase of 9,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 216,000. The 4-week moving average was 221,000, a decrease of 250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised down by 500 from 221,750 ...

Pending home sales slid for the sixth consecutive month in November, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. All four U.S. regions recorded month-over-month decreases, and all four regions saw year-over-year declines in transactions.

"Pending home sales recorded the second-lowest monthly reading in 20 years as interest rates, which climbed at one of the fastest paces on record this year, drastically cut into the number of contract signings to buy a home," said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. "Falling ...

Some Fifth District manufacturing firms reported modest improvements in December, according to the most recent survey from the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. The composite manufacturing index climbed into positive territory, increasing from −9 in November to 1 in December. Each of its three component indexes — shipments, new orders ...

Growth in Texas factory activity resumed in December, 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 9.7, suggestive of a pickup in ...

S&P 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 October 2022 show that home price gains declined across the United States.

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 9.2% annual gain in October, down from 10.7% in the previous month. The 10-City Composite annual increase came in at 8.0%, down from 9.6% in ...

New Home Sales
Sales of new single‐family houses in November 2022 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 640,000, according to estimates released jointly today by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is 5.8 percent (±22.7 percent)* above the revised October rate of 605,000, but is 15.3 ...

Consumer sentiment rose 5%, recovering the declines from November, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers.

Sentiment remains relatively downbeat, however—remaining 15% below a year ago—but consumers’ extremely negative attitudes have softened this month over easing pressures from inflation, said U-M economist Joanne Hsu, director of the surveys. ...

Personal income increased $80.1 billion (0.4 percent) in November, according to estimates released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (tables 3 and 5). Disposable personal income (DPI) increased $68.6 billion (0.4 percent) and personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $19.8 billion ...

New Orders
New orders for manufactured durable goods in November, down following three consecutive monthly increases, decreased $5.8 billion or 2.1 percent to $270.6 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This followed a 0.7 percent October increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.2 percent. Excluding defense, ...

Tenth District manufacturing activity declined at a slightly faster pace than last month, while expectations for future activity were mostly flat or slightly positive. The monthly index of raw materials prices continued to slow in December, but materials prices were still higher than a year ago at most firms and expected to rise moderately in ...

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the U.S. decreased by 1.0 percent in November 2022 to 113.5 (2016=100), following a decline of 0.9 percent in October. The LEI is now down 3.7 percent over the six-month period between May and November 2022—a much steeper rate of decline than its 0.8 percent contraction over the ...

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 3.2 percent in the third quarter of 2022 (table 1), according to the "third" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the second quarter, real GDP decreased 0.6 percent.

The "third" estimate of GDP released today is based on more complete source data than were available for the "second" estimate issued last month. In the second estimate, the increase in real GDP was 2.9 percent. The updated estimates primarily reflected upward revisions to ...

In the week ending December 17, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 216,000, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 3,000 from 211,000 to 214,000. The 4-week moving average was 221,750, a decrease of 6,250 from the previous week's revised average. ...

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® increased in December following back-to-back monthly declines. The Index now stands at 108.3 (1985=100), up sharply from 101.4 in November. The Present Situation Index—based on consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions—increased to 147.2 from 138.3 last month. ...

Existing-home sales declined for the tenth month in a row in November, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. All four major U.S. regions recorded month-over-month and year-over-year declines.

Total existing-home sales, completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops – waned 7.7% from October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.09 million in November. Year-over-year, sales dwindled by 35.4% (down from 6.33 million ...

The U.S. current-account deficit narrowed by $21.6 billion, or 9.1 percent, to $217.1 billion in the third quarter of 2022, according to statistics released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The revised second-quarter deficit was $238.7 billion. The third-quarter deficit was 3.4 percent of current-dollar gross domestic product, ...

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 December 16, 2022. 

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 decreased 1 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index increased 6 ...

Building Permits
Privately‐owned housing units authorized by building permits in November were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,342,000. This is 11.2 percent below the revised October rate of 1,512,000 and is 22.4 percent below the November 2021 rate of 1,729,000. Single‐family authorizations in November were at a rate of 781,000; this ...

Nonmanufacturing activity in the region remained weak this month, according to the firms responding to the December Nonmanufacturing Business Outlook Survey. The index for general activity at the firm level turned positive but remained low. The new orders and sales/revenues indexes were negative, and the full-time employment index declined to ...

High mortgage rates, elevated construction costs running well above the inflation rate and flagging consumer demand due to deteriorating affordability conditions have dragged builder sentiment down every month in 2022.

Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes posted its 12th straight monthly decline in December, dropping two points to 31, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today. This is ...

The U.S. Department of the Treasury today released Treasury International Capital (TIC) data for October 2022. The sum total in October of all net foreign acquisitions of long-term securities, short-term U.S. securities, and banking flows was a net TIC inflow of $179.9 billion. Of this, net foreign private inflows were $167.7 billion, and ...

The combined value of distributive trade sales and manufacturers' shipments for October, adjusted for seasonal and trading day differences but not for price changes, was estimated at $1,859.5 billion, up 0.8 percent (±0.2 percent) from September 2022 and was up 10.1 percent (±0.3 percent) from ...

Industrial production declined 0.2 percent in November. Decreases of 0.6 percent for manufacturing and 0.7 percent for mining were partly offset by a rebound of 3.6 percent for utilities following three months of declines. At 104.5 percent of its 2017 average, total industrial production in November was 2.5 percent above its year-earlier ...

Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for November 2022, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $689.4 billion, down 0.6 percent (±0.5 percent) from the previous month, but up 6.5 percent (±0.7 percent) above November 2021. Total sales for the September ...

Business activity declined in New York State, according to firms responding to the December 2022 Empire State Manufacturing Survey. The headline general business conditions index fell sixteen points to -11.2. New orders moved slightly lower, while shipments edged higher. Delivery times and inventories were little changed. Labor market ...

Manufacturing activity in the region continued to decline overall in December, according to the firms responding to this month's Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey. The survey's broad indicators for current activity were all negative. The firms on balance also reported a decline in employment. The future indicators improved, suggesting that ...

In the week ending December 10, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 211,000, a decrease of 20,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 230,000 to 231,000. The 4-week moving average was 227,250, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week's revised average. ...

Recent indicators point to modest growth in spending and production. Job gains have been robust in recent months, and the unemployment rate has remained low. Inflation remains elevated, reflecting supply and demand imbalances related to the pandemic, higher food and energy prices, and broader ...

U.S. import prices decreased 0.6 percent in November following a 0.4-percent drop the previous month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Lower nonfuel and fuel prices contributed to the November decline in U.S. import prices. Prices for U.S. exports fell 0.3 percent in November, after decreasing 0.4 percent the ...

Mortgage applications increased 3.2 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending December 9, 2022. 

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 0.4 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index increased 3 ...

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.1 percent in November on a seasonally adjusted basis, after increasing 0.4 percent in October, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 7.1 percent before ...

All employees
Real average hourly earnings for all employees increased 0.5 percent from October to November, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This result stems from an increase of 0.6 percent in average hourly earnings combined with an increase of 0.1 percent in the Consumer Price Index for All ...

Inflation remains the top business problem for small business owners, with 32% of owners reporting it as their single most important problem in operating their business, five points lower than July’s highest reading since the fourth quarter of 1979. The Small Business Optimism Index rose 0.6 points in November to 91.9. November’s reading is ...

October 2022 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 $700.8 billion, up 0.4 percent (±0.5 percent)* from the revised September level and were up 11.9 percent (±0.7 percent) from the revised October ...

The Conference Board®−Burning Glass® Help Wanted OnLine® (HWOL) Index increased in November to 157.6 (July 2018=100), up from 156.9 in October. The 0.4 percent increase between October and November follows a 3.3 percent decline between September and October. Overall, the Index is down 5.0 percent from a ...

Consumer sentiment rose 4% above November, recovering most of the losses from November but remaining low from a historical perspective. All components of the index lifted, with one-year business conditions surging 14% and long-term business conditions increasing a more modest 6%. Gains in the sentiment index were seen across multiple ...

The Producer Price Index for final demand advanced 0.3 percent in November, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Final demand prices also rose 0.3 percent in both October and September. On an unadjusted basis, the index for final demand moved up 7.4 percent for the 12 months ended in ...

In the week ending December 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 230,000, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 225,000 to 226,000. The 4-week moving average was 230,000, an increase of 1,000 from the previous week's revised average. ...

In October, consumer credit increased at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.9 percent. Revolving credit increased at an annual rate of 10.4 percent, while nonrevolving credit increased at an annual rate of 5.8 percent.

...

Nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased 0.8 percent in the third quarter of 2022 rather than the preliminary estimate of 0.3 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, as output increased 3.3 percent and hours worked increased 2.5 percent. (All quarterly percent changes in this release are seasonally adjusted ...

Mortgage applications decreased 1.9 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending December 2, 2022. Last week’s results include an adjustment for the observance of the ...

The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced today that the goods and services deficit was $78.2 billion in October, up $4.0 billion from $74.1 billion in September, revised.

Exports, Imports, and Balance
October exports were $256.6 billion, $1.9 billion less than September exports. October imports were $334.8 billion, $2.2 billion more than September imports. The October increase in the goods and services deficit reflected an increase in the ...

Summary
New orders for manufactured goods in October, up twelve of the last thirteen months, increased $5.8 billion or 1.0 percent to $556.6 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 0.3 percent September increase. Shipments, up nineteen of the last twenty months, increased $3.9 billion or 0.7 percent to $554.8 billion. ...

Economic activity in the services sector grew in November for the 30th month in a row — with the Services PMI® registering 56.5 percent — say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in the latest Services ISM® Report On Business®.

The report was issued today by Anthony Nieves, CPSM, C.P.M., A.P.P., CFPM, Chair of the Institute for Supply Management® (ISM®) Services Business Survey Committee: “In November, the Services PMI® registered 56.5 percent, 2.1 percentage points higher than October’s reading ...

The Conference Board Employment Trends Index™ (ETI) declined in November to 117.65, from a downwardly revised 118.74 in October 2022. The Employment Trends Index is a leading composite index for employment. When the index increases, employment is likely to grow as well, and vice versa. Turning points in the index indicate that a turning point ...

Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 263,000 in November, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.7 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Notable job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality, health care, and government. Employment declined in retail trade and in transportation ...

Total Construction
Construction spending during October 2022 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,794.9 billion, 0.3 percent (±1.2 percent)* below the revised September estimate of $1,800.1 billion. The October figure is 9.2 percent (±1.5 percent) above the October 2021 estimate of $1,644.3 billion. During the first ten ...

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in November for the first time since May 2020 after 29 consecutive months of growth, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®.

The report was issued today by Timothy R. Fiore, CPSM, C.P.M., Chair of the Institute for Supply Management® (ISM®) Manufacturing Business Survey Committee: ...

Personal income increased $155.3 billion (0.7 percent) in October, according to estimates released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (tables 3 and 5). Disposable personal income (DPI) increased $132.9 billion (0.7 percent) and personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $147.9 billion ...