The Chicago Purchasing Managers reported the July Chicago Business Barometer gained incrementally while the short term trend of the Chicago Business Barometer fell for the fourth month. Gains in New Orders and Order Backlogs were offset by weakness in Production, Employment, and Supplier Deliveries. The three month moving average on all ...

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®, which had declined in June, improved slightly in July. The Index now stands at 65.9 (1985=100), up from 62.7 in June. The Expectations Index improved to 79.1 from 73.4. The Present Situation Index, however, decreased slightly to 46.2 from 46.6 a ...

Data through May 2012, released today by S&P Dow Jones Indices for its S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, the leading measure of U.S. home prices, showed that average home prices increased by 2.2% in May over April for both the 10- and 20-City Composites.

With May’s data, we found that home prices fell annually by 1.0% for the 10-City Composite and by 0.7% for the 20-City Composite versus May 2011. Both Composites and 17 of the 20 MSAs saw increases in annual returns in May compared to April. Boston, Charlotte and Detroit ...

Personal income increased $61.8 billion, or 0.5 percent, and disposable personal income (DPI) increased $52.4 billion, or 0.4 percent, in June, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) decreased $1.3 billion, or less than 0.1 percent. In May, personal income increased $39.0 billion, or 0.3 percent, ...

Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.5 percent, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month period ending June 2012, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Wages and salaries (which make up about 70 percent of compensation costs) increased 0.4 percent, and benefits (which make up the remaining 30 percent of ...

U.S. chain-store sales rose 1.8 percent year on year for the week that ended on July 28, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and Goldman Sachs. However, on a week-to-week basis, comparable-store sales slumped 1.7 percent.

"After a good start for the month, consumers took a pause at month's end with slower customer traffic and sales across all retail segments," said Michael Niemira, ICSC's vice president of research and chief economist. "Despite the late July softness in sales, the good news ...

Texas factory activity continued to increase in July, according to business executives responding to the Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey. The production index, a key measure of state manufacturing conditions, fell from 15.5 to 12, suggesting slightly slower ...

The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index (CFMMI) increased 1.1% in June, to a seasonally adjusted level of 94.1 (2007 = 100). Revised data show the index was down 1.4% in May. The Federal Reserve Board’s industrial production index for manufacturing (IPMFG) increased 0.7% in June. Regional output rose 11.0% in June from a year earlier, ...

Consumer confidence slipped in July, with all of the overall decline in how consumers viewed future prospects for the national economy. The good news is that consumers do not expect the economic slowdown to prompt an economy-wide recession; the bad news is that consumers do not expect the pace of economic growth to revive job and income ...

Real gross domestic product -- the output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States -- increased at an annual rate of 1.5 percent in the second quarter of 2012, (that is, from the first quarter to the second quarter), according to the "advance" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In ...

Growth in Tenth District manufacturing activity remained modest in July, and producers were slightly more optimistic than a month ago. Most price indexes increased after falling somewhat last month and more firms plan to pass these increases along. Several respondents commented on rising materials prices, particularly for agricultural ...

Pending home sales declined in June but marked 14 consecutive months of year-over-year gains, according to the National Association of Realtors®

The Pending Home Sales Index,* a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, slipped 1.4 percent to 99.3 in June from a downwardly revised 100.7 in May but is 9.5 percent higher than June 2011 when it was 90.7. The data reflect contracts but not closings. ...

For the week ending July 14, 2012, the DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer dropped by -1.0 percent in reaction to the large increase due to Auto and Truck Production in the prior week. Electric Production decreased largely following a sharp increase in the previous week. Lumber Production also declined after increases for five consecutive weeks. ...

In the week ending July 21, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 353,000, a decrease of 35,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 388,000. The 4-week moving average was 367,250, a decrease of 8,750 from the previous week's revised average ...

New orders for manufactured durable goods in June increased $3.4 billion or 1.6 percent to $221.6 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This increase, up two consecutive months, followed a 1.6 percent May increase. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 1.1 percent. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 0.7 ...

Sales of new single-family houses in June 2012 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 350,000, according to estimates released jointly today by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is 8.4 percent (±12.4%) below the revised May rate of 382,000, but is 15.1 percent (±16.7%) above the June ...

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 July 20, 2012.

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 also increased 0.9 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index increased ...

The pullback in manufacturing activity in the central Atlantic region deepened in July, after edging lower in June, according to the Richmond Fed's latest seasonally adjusted survey. The index of overall activity was pushed lower as shipments and new orders declined further into negative territory. Employment remained in positive territory, ...

The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) reported that chain store sales rose 1.0% from the prior week, while increasing 3.3% over the prior-year period during the week ending July 21st, the strongest gain in 5 weeks. “Sales improved over the prior week, but continued a choppy and uneven performance across retail categories,” ...

Led by improvements in production-related indicators, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) increased to –0.15 in June from –0.48 in May. Two of the four broad categories of indicators that make up the index improved from May, but only the production and income category made a positive contribution ...

Employers took 1,317 mass layoff actions in June involving 131,406 workers, seasonally adjusted, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Each mass layoff involved at least 50 workers from a single employer. Mass layoff events in June decreased by 63 ...

Firms responding to the July Business Outlook Survey continued to report weak business conditions. Although the survey’s indicators for general activity, new orders, and shipments improved from June, they remained negative this month, suggesting overall declines in business. Firms also reported declines in employment this month and shorter ...

Existing-home prices continued to show gains but sales fell in June with tight supplies of affordable homes limiting first-time buyers, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

Total existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, declined 5.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.37 million in June from an upwardly revised 4.62 million in May, but are 4.5 ...

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the U.S. declined 0.3 percent in June to 95.6 (2004 = 100), following a 0.4 percent increase in May, and a 0.1 percent decline in April.

The U.S. LEI declined in two of the last six months, and its six-month growth rate has eased in the last three months. The strengths among the leading indicators have become less widespread as consumer expectations and manufacturing new orders offset gains in the financial, ...

For the week ending July 7, 2012, the DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer rose significantly by +1.2 percent from the prior week. Auto and Truck Production contributed to the increase in the barometer of the week. This increase is due to several auto makers’ decisions to keep plants open during the annual summer shutdown period to meet a demand ...

In the week ending July 14, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 386,000, an increase of 34,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 352,000. The 4-week moving average was 375,500, a decrease of 1,500 from the previous week's revised average ...

Reports from most of the twelve Federal Reserve Districts indicated that overall economic activity continued to expand at a modest to moderate pace in June and early July. The Atlanta, St. Louis, and San Francisco Districts reported modest growth, while Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City, and Dallas described economic activity as ...

BUILDING PERMITS
Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in June were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 755,000. This is 3.7 percent (±1.0%) below the revised May rate of 784,000, but is 19.3 percent (±1.8%) above the June 2011 estimate of 633,000. Single-family authorizations in June were at a rate of 493,000; this ...

Mortgage applications increased 16.9 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending July 13, 2012.

The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 16.9 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 46 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index increased 22 ...

Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes rose six points to 35 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) for July, released today. This is the largest one-month gain recorded by the index in nearly a decade, and brings the HMI to its highest point since March ...

Industrial production increased 0.4 percent in June after having declined 0.2 percent in May. In the manufacturing sector, output advanced 0.7 percent in June and reversed a decrease of 0.7 percent in May. In the second quarter of 2012, manufacturing output rose at an annual rate of 1.4 percent, a marked deceleration from its strong gain of ...

The U.S. Department of the Treasury today released Treasury International Capital (TIC) data for May 2012. The sum total in May of all net foreign acquisitions of long-term securities, short-term U.S. securities, and banking flows was a monthly net TIC inflow of $101.7 billion. Of this, net foreign private inflows were $60.3 billion, and ...

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) was unchanged in June on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 1.7 percent before seasonal adjustment.

The energy index continued to fall in June, but its decline was offset by increases ...

Real average hourly earnings for all employees rose 0.2 percent from May to June, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This change resulted from a 0.3 percent increase in average hourly earnings combined with an unchanged Consumer Price Index for All Urban ...

The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) reported that chain store sales were unchanged from the prior week, while increasing 2.6% over the prior-year period during the week ending July 14th. According to the ICSC‐GS consumer tracking survey, apparel and department stores saw a pickup customer traffic this past week. Despite ...

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that the combined value of distributive trade sales and manufacturers’ shipments for May, adjusted for seasonal and trading-day differences but not for price changes, was estimated at $1,245.2 billion, down 0.1 percent (±0.2%)* from April 2012 and up 5.1 percent (±0.4%) from ...

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for June, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $401.5 billion, a decrease of 0.5 percent (±0.5%) from the previous month, but 3.8 percent (±0.7%) above June 2011. Total sales ...

The July Empire State Manufacturing Survey indicates that manufacturing activity expanded modestly over the month. The general business conditions index rose five points to 7.4. New orders, however, declined, as that index slipped into negative territory for the first time since November 2011, falling five points to -2.7. The shipments ...

The Producer Price Index for finished goods increased 0.1 percent in June, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Prices for finished goods moved down 1.0 percent in May and declined 0.2 percent in April. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods decreased ...

For the week ending June 30, 2012, the DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer stayed at the same level as in the prior week. Auto Production rose by +4.2 percent in contrast with a fall in Truck Production. Railroad Freight Carloadings showed a pickup after decreasing for two consecutive weeks, and Box Office Receipts jumped by +8.3 percent. Chain ...

In the week ending July 7, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 350,000, a decrease of 26,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 376,000. The 4-week moving average was 376,500, a decrease of 9,750 from the previous week's revised average ...

U.S. import prices fell 2.7 percent in June, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, following a 1.2 percent decrease in May. Lower prices for both fuel and nonfuel imports contributed to the overall decline. U.S. export prices fell 1.7 percent in June after a 0.4 percent drop the ...

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that May 2012 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 $409.6 billion, down 0.8 percent (+/-0.5) from the revised April level, but were up 5.7 percent (+/-0.9%) from ...

The Nation’s international trade deficit in goods and services decreased to $48.7 billion in May from $50.6 billion in April (revised), as exports increased and imports decreased.

The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the Department of Commerce, announced today that total May exports of $183.1 billion and imports of $231.8 billion resulted in a goods and services deficit of $48.7 billion, down from $50.6 billion in ...

Mortgage applications decreased 2.1 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending July 6, 2012. This week’s results include an adjustment for the Fourth of July holiday.

The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 2.1 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 22 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index decreased 3 ...

There were 3.6 million job openings on the last business day of May, little changed from 3.4 million in April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The hires rate (3.3 percent) and separations rate (3.3 percent) were essentially unchanged in May. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, ...

There was no good news in the June survey. The Small Business Optimism Index posted a decline of 3 points, falling to 91.4. This is a clear indication of slow growth. Only one of the ten Index components improved, expected credit conditions. Labor market indicators, spending plans for capital equipment and inventories took a drubbing, ...

The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) reported that chain store sales spiked up 2.0% from the prior week, while accelerating to a 3.0% pace over the prior-year period during the week ending July 7th. “This past week featured a number of factors – extreme hot weather, Independence Day and vacations – all of which helped to spur ...

Consumer credit increased at an annual rate of 8 percent in May. Revolving credit increased at an annual rate of 11-1/4 percent, while nonrevolving credit increased at an annual rate of 6-1/2 percent.

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The Conference Board Employment Trends Index™ (ETI) dipped to 107.47 in June, down from the revised figure of 108.23 in May. The June figure is 5.6 percent higher than a year ago.

The Employment Trends Index has been flat since February, suggesting that slow employment growth is likely to continue through the summer. Since there is little hope of acceleration in the pace of economic activity any time soon, these weak labor market conditions are ...