Texas Factory Activity Contracted in November Texas factory activity contracted slightly in the month, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas November 2019 Texas Manufacturing Index, per executives responding to the survey. The production index, a key measure of state manufacturing conditions, dipped into negative territory for the first time since mid-2016. Other measures [...]
Thanks to All Our Friends, Customers and Vendors As we enter the Holiday Season and move toward the end of 2019, I give thanks to all our friends, customers and vendors for their support throughout this and every year. We all have very much to be thankful for, number 1 is the blessing of being [...]
Small Business Optimism Index Rose 0.6 Points, Remaining Close to its Cycle High The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Small Business Optimism Index rose 0.6 points, remaining close to its cycle high. Most key components rose, including capital spending and hiring plans. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) Rose 0.4 [...]
Dow Industrials All-Time High The Dow Industrials all-time high was reached Monday, closing at 27462. The new all-time high was powered by optimism about a US-China trade deal and last week's upbeat figures on Q3 economic growth and better than expected October hiring. Reflecting the global growth slowdown and the ongoing US-China trade war, the [...]
Job Market Remains Strong The job market remains strong even in the face of trade disputes and labor strikes as US employers hired at a solid clip in October. The economy added 128,000 jobs in October, as reported by the Labor Department and job creation in September and August were revised up by a net [...]
Job and Income Growth Remain Favorable Job and income growth remain favorable. Largely ignoring other news, consumers are still focused on job and income growth. Inflation expectations remain muted, supportive of a Fed rate cut next week. Wells Fargo October Fifth District Survey of Manufacturing Activity Reports Activity Strengthened The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond [...]
The First Crack in the Foundation The first crack in the foundation may be the 0.3% decline in September retail sales. Amid the ongoing trade war and worries about a potential recession, the strength of consumer spending has been a needed counterweight." Wells-Fargo Business Activity Grew Slightly in Empire State The Federal Reserve Bank of [...]
Small Business Optimism Index Indicates Consistent Economic Growth The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Small Business Optimism Index indicates consistent economic growth, though it fell modestly in September. Hiring and investment have moderated. US Drill Rigs Running Down From Previous Week There were 855 drill rigs running in the US last week, down 5 [...]
The Midwest Economy Index Moved Up in August The Midwest Economy Index (MEI) moved up to -0.26 in August from -0.37 in July. Contributions to the August MEI from three of the four broad sectors of nonfarm business activity and one of the five Seventh Federal Reserve District states increased from July. Chicago Business Barometer [...]
2019 Second Quarter GDP Increased 2019 Second Quarter GDP Increased. Real gross domestic product increased 2.0 percent in the second quarter of 2019, according to the "third" and final estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) Rose to +0.10 in August from -0.41 in July Led by [...]
