Highest Consumer Confidence Since July 2021 Highest consumer confidence since 2021, not since the outset of the pandemic has consumers’ assessment of the present situation been stronger than it is today. Meanwhile, amid broad improvement in labor market measures, overall consumer confidence rose to its highest level since July 2021, and expectations rose as well. The [...]
First Estimate of 2022Q4 GDP at 2.9 Percent The first estimate of 2022Q4 GDP at 2.9 percent, but drilling into the numbers shows housing in a recession, taking transportation out of the equation leaves GDP growth in a negative position. US Raw Steel Production Up from Previous Week In the week ending 1/21/23, US raw [...]
Manufacturing Activity Strengthened in May Manufacturing activity strengthened in May, according to the most recent Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Fifth District Survey of Manufacturing Activity report. All three component indexes-shipments, new orders and employment-reflected growth. The Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) Declined in April The Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) declined to [...]
Chicago Fed National Activity Index Rose in March The Chicago Fed National Activity Index rose to +1.71 in March from -1.20 in February. Led by improvements in, personal consumption and housing related indicators, the index's three-month moving average (CFNAI-MA3) moved up to +0.40 in March. US Raw Steel Production Up 0.5% from Previous Week In [...]
Texas Manufacturing Activity Accelerated in February 2020 Texas manufacturing activity accelerated, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey for February 2020, according to executives responding to the survey. The Production Index, a key measure of state manufacturing conditions, rose by 6 points, suggesting stronger output growth than in January. Other [...]
Housing Starts Rose in November Single family housing starts rose 2.4% in November, multi-family starts by 4.9% and overall building permits rose 1.4%. Wells Fargo November existing home sales declined 1.7% in November but are still up 2.7% over the year. Sales should continue to improve with support from lower mortgage rates though inventory shortages [...]
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 [...]
Led by Declines in Production-Related Indicators, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index Fell in July Led by declines in production-related indicators, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index fell to -0.36 in July from +0.03 in June. All four broad categories of indicators that make up the index decreased from June, and all four categories made [...]
LEI Increased 3 Consecutive Months The LEI increased 3 consecutive months, according to the Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the US, which showed an increase of 0.2 percent in April following a 0.3 percent increase in March and a 0.2 percent increase in February. The US LEI rose in April, the third consecutive [...]
Real GDP Increased 3.2% Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased 3.2 percent in the first quarter of 2019, according to the "advance" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). In the fourth quarter of 2018, real GDP increased 2.2 percent. Durable goods orders rose 2.7% in March. Core capital goods orders suggest the [...]
