Commentary Archive

December 2003
31 Jobless Insurance Claims Lowest Since Early 2001
31 Mortgage Applications Lower
30 Chicago Purchasing Agents' Index Down More Than Expected
30 Consumer Confidence Slipped
30 Existing Home Sales Down Again in November
30 A Very Happy Holiday for Chain Stores
29 Help-Wanted Advertising Improved
29 Mad Cow Disease Ends Rally in Beef Prices
24 U.S. Durable Goods Orders Plunged
24 Initial Claims for Jobless Insurance Lower
24 Mortgage Applications Resume Decline
24 New Home Sales Down Again
23 3Q U.S. GDP Unrevised at 8.2%
23 Chain Store Sales Reflect the Holiday Spirit
23 U.S. Consumer Sentiment Boosted After Saddam's Capture
22 US Dollar Up This Month Versus Major Currency Index, Depressed Vs. Euro
22 Italian Business Confidence Drops. The culprits? Euro's Rise, Labor Unrest, Corporate Scandals 
18 Philadelphia Fed Index At Ten Year High
18 Initial Claims for Jobless Insurance Drop Sharply
18 Leading Indicators Up As Expected
17 Strongest Increase in Industrial Production in the Euro-zone Since August, 2001
17 Mortgage Applications Rebound
17 U.S. Manpower Hiring Index Improved
17 Chain Store Sales Recover
17 Small Business Optimism Near 20 Year High
16 Consumer Prices Fell Broadly
16 Housing Starts Near 20 Year Record
16 Housing Market Index Unchanged In December
16 U.S. Industrial Production Jumped
16 U.S. Current Account Deficit Shrank in 3Q
15 U.S. Budget Deficit Leveled Off
15 Empire State Index Firm
12 Q4 Euro-zone Activity Shows Improvement
12 Producer Prices Fell
12 U.S. Trade Deficit Deepened
12 U.S. Consumer Sentiment Fell
11 U.S. Retail Sales Strong
11 Initial Claims for Jobless Insurance Up Again
11 Import Prices Strengthen
11 U.S. Business Inventories Accumulate
10 Mortgage Applications & Delinquencies Down
10 Revisions to U.S. GDP Growth Minor, Profits Raised
9 Japan's 3Q Revised GDP Disappoints but a Big Rise in October Machinery Orders Points to Better Times Ahead
9 FOMC Indicates "Accommodation Can Be Maintained for a Considerable Period"
9 Chain Store Sales Buried by Snow
8 Business Confidence in Japan in Sharp Rise Over Last Year
8 Upcoming Revisions to the National Income & Product Accounts (NIPA)
5 Canada Job Gains Continue
5 U.S. Non-farm Payrolls Up Less Than Expected
5 OECD Leaders Firm Again
5 Factory Orders Surge, Inventories Unchanged
4 Unemployment Picture Improves in Germany
4 Initial Jobless Insurance Claims Rose Slightly
3 Euro-Zone Services Continue Broad Expansion Through Q4
3 ISM Non-manufacturing Index Down
3 U.S. Light Vehicle Sales Improved
3 Strong U.S. Productivity Revised Up
3 Mortgage Applications Down
2 Consumer Confidence in France Declines
2 Gold Prices Top $400/oz.
2 Chain Store Sales Begin Holiday Season Soft
2 Challenger Layoffs Eased
1 Manufacturing in the Euro-zone Rises for Third Month in a Row in November
1 ISM Factory Index a Barnburner
1 U.S. Construction Spending Jumped Unexpectedly
November 2003
26 UK Growth in Q3 Strongest in 2-1/2 Years
26 New Home Sales Down
26 Help-Wanted Advertising Unchanged At Three Month Low
26 U.S. Consumer Sentiment Up
26 Chicago Purchasing Agents' Index Strong
26 Initial Jobless Insurance Claims Lowest Since January 2001
26 U.S. Personal Income Up
26 U.S. Durable Goods Orders Surged
25 Euro-zone Confidence Indicators Mostly Positive
25 Existing Home Sales Down in October
25 Consumer Confidence Up More Than Expected
25 Weekly Chain Store Sales Up
25 3Q U.S. GDP Revised to 8.2%, Profits Exploded
24 South Korea Reports Increased Growth in the Third Quarter
24 ECRI Weekly Leading Indicators at Record High
21 Venezuela Struggles to Recover from Early 2003 Oil Strike
21 US Dollar At Seven Year Low
20 UK Retail Sales Resume Firm Growth
20 Initial Claims for Jobless Insurance Fell
20 Leading Indicators Up More Than Expected
20 Chicago Fed National Activity Index Positive
20 Philadelphia Fed Index Firm
19 Energy Prices Hold Back Canadian and French CPIs
19 Single Family Housing Starts Set Record
19 Housing Market Index Dipped in November
19 Mortgage Applications Jump, Interest Rates Fell
19 Small Business Optimism Jumped
18 Year-to-Year Growth in German Employment Turns Up
18 CPI Unchanged
18 U.S. Budget Deficit Deepened Further in October
18 Weekly Chain Store Sales Eased
17 Q3 Indonesian GDP Exceeds pre-1988 Crisis Levels
17 Empire State Index Surged Again
17 U.S. Business Inventories Up Unexpectedly
14 U.S. Consumer Sentiment Firm
14 U.S. Retail Sales Fell Slightly, Auto Sales Lower
14 PPI Jumped Due To Higher Light Vehicle Prices
14 U.S. Industrial Production Up
14 Favorable Growth Reports for Entire Euro-zone, Japan and Taiwan
13 U.S. Trade Deficit Deepened
13 Import Prices Rose
13 Initial Jobless Insurance Claims Tick Higher
13 Mortgage Applications Drop Sharply
13 Q3 Growth Turns Positive in Germany, France and the Netherlands
12 Older Workers Increase Role in UK Job Market
12 Commodity Prices Higher
11 ZEW Index of German Confidence Rises to Highest Level in Sixteen Months
11 Weekly Chain Store Sales Jump
11 Gasoline Prices Down Sharply From Peak
10 Taiwanese Merchandise Trade:  Shifting Trade Patterns
10 U.S. Consumer Credit Usage Jumped
7 German Industrial Production Sags, Despite Better "Business Climate"
7 OECD Leaders Strong
7 U.S. Nonfarm Payrolls Rose
6 Unemployment Picture Improves in Australia, Germany
6 U.S. Productivity Surged in 3Q 2003
6 Initial Claims for Jobless Insurance Plunge
5 Euro-Zone Services and Manufacturing Businesses Share in Expansion
5 ISM Non-manufacturing Index Jumped
5 Mortgage Applications for Purchase Jump
5 Factory Orders Recover, Inventories Fell Again
4 French Households Become Less Confident in October
4 U.S. Light Vehicle Sales Broadly Weak
4 Challenger Layoffs Surged
4 Weekly Chain Store Sales Recover
3 More Indicators of Optimism in Euro-zone
3 ISM Factory Index Higher, Orders Strong
3 U.S. Construction Spending Strong
October 2003
31 Business Confidence Improves in Europe, but Consumers Remain Wary
31 U.S. After Tax Income Fell
31 Chicago Purchasing Agents' Index Up
31 U.S. Consumer Sentiment Up As Expected
30 "Small" Countries Gain from Trade
30 Help-Wanted Advertising Still Down
30 Employment Cost Index Firm
30 3Q U.S. GDP Growth Surged To 7.2%
30 Initial Claims for Jobless Insurance Down
29 Producer Prices Weak and Weaker in Canada, South Africa
29 Mortgage Applications Down
29 Weekly Chain Store Sales Fell Sharply
28 FOMC Left Fed Funds Rate Unchanged
28 Consumer Confidence Up
28 U.S. Durable Goods Orders Recover
28

Japanese Retail Sales Extend Hesitant Improvement
28 Businessmen Becoming More Optimistic in Germany,  the Netherlands and in Italy
27 A Smaller Current Account and Larger Capital Outflows in the Euro-zone Balance of Payments
27 New Home Sales Dip
27 Existing Home Sales Surprisingly to Another Record
23 New Figures On Household Indebtedness
23 Initial Claims for Jobless Insurance Down
22 Foreign Trade Active in "Transition" Economies
22 Mortgage Applications Remained Down
21 Retail Sales in China Continue to Recover from SARS
21 U.S. Budget Deficit a Record in FY 2003
21 Weekly Chain Store Sales Stable
20 Unemployment Rate in Hong Kong Declines Due Partly to a Fall in the Labor Force
20 Leading Indicators Fell
17 U.S. Consumer Sentiment Recovers Somewhat
17 Housing Market Index Rose to Four Year High
17 Housing Starts Rebound in September
16 Philadelphia Fed Index Up Big
16 Foreign Purchases of U.S. Securities Smaller in August, but Still Large by Historical Standards
16 U.S. CPI Up Moderately
16 U.S. Industrial Production Rose As Expected
16 Jobless Insurance Claims Fell Again
16 U.S. Business Inventories Down
15 UK Unemployment Rate Lowest of Major Economies
15 Retail Sales Fell Slightly, Excl. Autos Firm
15 Empire State Index Surged in October
15 Mortgage Applications Plummet
14 Consumer Sentiment In Korea Declines Sharply
14 Commodity Prices Up Sharply
14 Weekly Chain Store Sales Dipped
13 Industrial Production in Italy Rises in August for Third Month
13 OECD Leaders Up Again
10 Canada Sees Job Increase in September
10 Producer Prices Up Due To Food Price Surge
10 U.S. Trade Deficit Narrowed As Imports Fell
9 U.S. Initial Claims For Jobless Insurance Down
9 U.S. Import Prices Fell
8 Despite Higher Rates Mortgage Applications Rose
8 U.S. Consumer Credit Usage Up
7 German Manufacturing Orders Increase
7 September Chain Store Sales Down Despite Last Week's Surge
7 Small Business Optimism Faded
6 Inflation Rates Low in Taiwan, Philippines
6 July Retail Sales in the Eurozone Exceed Consensus
6 ECRI Weekly Leading Indicators Signal Above-Trend Economic Growth
3 Employment Decreases in Italy
3 U.S. Nonfarm Payrolls Rose
3 ISM Nonmanufacturing Index Fell Slightly
2 Euro-Zone PPI Up 0.2% in August, Index ex-Energy Is Flat
2 Factory Orders Skid
2 Initial Jobless Insurance Claims Rose
2 U.S. Light Vehicle Sales Down
1 Japanese TANKAN Shows First Positive Result in 2-1/2 Years
1 ISM Factory Index Down Just A Bit, Orders Rose
1 Challenger Layoffs Down Again
1 U.S. Construction Spending Up
1 Mortgage Applications Tick Higher
September 2003
30 Revised UK GDP Data Show Greater Growth
30 Consumer Confidence Slid
30 Chicago Purchasing Agents' Index Down
30 Weekly Chain Store Sales Fell Again
29 Industrial Production in Korea Rebounds from  Strike Affected Levels
29 U.S. After Tax Income Surged Again
26 Sales and Prices "Improve" in Japan
26 2Q U.S. GDP Growth Revised Up Again. Profit Surge Lessened But Nonfinancial Profits Raised
26 U.S. Consumer Sentiment Eased This Month
25 Czech Consumer Confidence Erodes; Business Confidence Holds Firm
25 Initial Claims for Jobless Insurance Fell
25 U.S. Durable Goods Orders Fell
25 New Home Sales Up
25 Existing Home Sales Surge to Another Record
25 Help-Wanted Advertising Weak
25 Chicago Fed National Activity Index Eased
24 Falling Exports Reduce Euro-zone Current Account
24 Productivity - International Comparisons, US Service Sector and R&D
24 U.S. Mortgage Applications Down Again
23 Italian Retail Sales Continue Upward Trend in Spite of Depressed Consumer Confidence  
23 Hurricane Isabel Lowered Weekly Chain Store Sales Sharply
23 U.S. Dollar Tanked Against Major Currencies
22 Employment in Taiwan's Service Industries Continues to Outpace that in the Goods Industries
22 U.S. Employment Series Indicate Positive or Negative Growth
19 Hong Kong Trade & Finance Grow in Second Quarter -- Despite SARS
19 U.S. Budget Deficit Plumbing New Depths
19 Wood Prices Surge, Gas Prices Moderate
18 Philadelphia Fed Index Down A Bit
18 Korean Labor Market Improves in August
18 Leading Indicators Up For Fourth Month
18 Initial Jobless Insurance Claims Below 400,000
17 UK Employment Rises; Older Workers Increase Participation
17 Small Business Felt Better
17 Housing Starts Fell Slightly
17 Mortgage Applications Fell
16 German Investors Becoming More Confident
16 U.S. CPI Up Less Than Expected
16 Weekly Chain Store Sales Slipped
16 FOMC Left Fed Funds Rate Unchanged
16 U.S. Manpower Hiring Index Improved
16 U.S. Housing Market Index Backed Off
15 Thailand's gross Domestic product Shows Growth in The Second Quarter 
15 U.S. Industrial Production Weak
15 Empire State Factory Survey Improved in September
15 Business Inventories Fell as Sales Surged a Second Month
12 Industrial Production Gains in Malaysia, India, but Sags in France
12 U.S. Consumer Sentiment Down Unexpectedly for Second Month
12 U.S. Producer Prices About As Expected
12 U.S. Retail Sales Rose Less Than Expected Due to Autos
11 CPIs Converge as Economies Open
11 U.S. Import Prices Weak
11 U.S. Initial Claims for Jobless Insurance Higher
10

Japan GDP Revised Higher with Stronger Business Investment
10 U.S. Mortgage Applications Jumped as Interest Rates Fell
10 OECD Leaders Build Upward Momentum
9 Consumer Credit Usage Up Moderately
9 Weekly Chain Store Sales Jumped
9 A Sharp Rise in Italian Business Confidence
8 Another Japanese Leading Indicator Edges Up
8 US Dollar Down Even Before the August Employment Report
5 U.S. Nonfarm Payrolls Fell Unexpectedly
5 Canadian Employment Down, Unemployment Up in August
5 Gasoline Prices At a Record, Crude Oil Prices Down
4 Labor Markets Stabilize in Germany and Italy
4 Factory Orders Up Further in July
4 U.S. Light Vehicle Sales Surged
4 ISM Nonmanufacturing Index Stable & Strong
4 Strong U.S. Productivity Revised Up for 2nd Quarter
4 Initial Claims for Jobless Insurance Above 400,000
3 Australian Retail Sales Higher
3 Home Price Inflation Slowed
3 U.S. Construction Spending Rose Slightly
3 Weekly Chain Store Sales Up Slightly
3 Mortgage Applications for Refinance Fell
2 Pressure on China's Currency
2 ISM Factory Index Powered by Output & Orders
2 Challenger Layoffs Eased
August 2003
29 U.S. After Tax Income Spiked, Personal Spending Surged
29 U.S. Consumer Sentiment Lower Than Expected
29 Chicago Purchasing Agents' Index Rose Further
29 ECRI Weekly Leading Indicators Tread Water
29 Volatile Japanese Industrial Production Appears to Turn Positive
28 Economic Fortunes Mixed Around the World
28 2Q U.S. GDP Growth Revised Up, Profits Surged
28 Initial Claims for Jobless Insurance Up Slightly
28 Help-Wanted Advertising Still Low
28 Chicago Fed National Activity Index Up Again
27 Canadian Business See Quarterly Profit Decline after Strong Recovery
27 Mortgage Applications Fell Further
26 West German IFO Index Rises to 14-Month High 
26 U.S. Durable Goods Orders Rose Further
26 Weekly Chain Store Sales Up
26 New Home Sales Slip But Top Estimates
26 Consumer Confidence Up
25 Measures of Business and Consumer Confidence Rise in Belgium and the Netherlands but Remain Low
25 Existing Home Sales Surged
22 Korean Economy Weakening
22 ECRI Weekly Leading Indicators Slip, Uptrend Strong
21 Philadelphia Fed Index Surged
21 Leading Indicators Rose Further
21 U.K. Industry, Consumer Demand Show Firming Tendencies
21 German GDP Detail Confirms Export Drag
21 Initial Claims for Jobless Insurance Fell
20 French Economy Declines Unexpectedly in Second Quarter
20 U.S. Budget Deficit Deepened in July
20 Mortgage Applications Down
19 German Investor Confidence Strengthening
19 Housing Starts Highest Since 1986
19 U.S. Consumer Sentiment Dipped
19 Weekly Chain Store Sales Stall
18 Housing Market Index Much Higher
15 Empire State Factory Survey Fell in August
15 Industrial Production Gain Boosted by Hot Weather
15 CPI Up As Expected
14 Flash GDP Estimates Show Decline in Germany, Weak Growth in Euro-Zone
14 Initial Claims for Jobless Insurance Up
14 U.S. Trade Deficit Narrowed As Exports Rose
14 Producer Prices Up As Expected, But Core Prices Firmed
13 Record High Employment Rate in UK; Wages Moderate
13 Mortgage Applications Collapse
13 Business Inventories Rose Slightly
13 Import Prices Firm On Higher Oil Prices
13 Retail Sales Momentum Building
12 Fed Funds Rate Left Unchanged by FOMC
12 Japan's Growth Exceeds Expectations, but Deflation Still a Problem
12 Chain Store Sales Tick Higher
11 Price Trends in UK Mfg Point to Further Profit Squeeze
11 OECD Leaders Up Again
8 Canadian Labor Markets Soften in July as Teenagers Lack Summer Jobs
8 Consumer Credit Usage Fell
7 CPI Trends Differ in Emerging European Nations
7 Initial Claims for Jobless Insurance Remained Below 400,000
7 U.S. Productivity Surged in 2nd Quarter
6 Germany Factory Orders, Employment Stabilize After Declines
6 Mortgage Applications Tick Higher Following Sharp Declines
5 Services in the Euro-zone Expand While Mfg is Still in Contracting Stage
5 Chain Store Sales Rose
5 Challenger Layoffs Up
5 ISM Nonmanufacturing Index Strong
4 Realignment of Currencies
4 Factory Orders Surged in June
1 U.S. Light Vehicle Sales Up Slightly
1 Construction Spending Fell Again
1 Consumer Sentiment Improves
1 ISM Factory Index Rises Above 50
1 Moderate Rise in Personal Income & Spending
1 U.S. Nonfarm Payrolls Decline
July 2003
31 Small Rise in Help-Wanted Advertising
31 Chicago Purchasing Agents' Index Advances
31 Initial Jobless Claims Below 400,000 a Second Week
31 Employment Cost Index Up
31 Second Quarter U.S. GDP Advances
30 Mortgage Applications Plunged
30 Chicago Fed National Activity Index Moves Up
29 Consumer Confidence Drops
28 Is Germany's Economy About to Turn the Corner?
25 German Inflation Drifting Lower
25 U.K. Q1 GDP Lower than Expected
25 Existing Home Sales Dip
25 New Home Sales Stronger Still
25 U.S. Durable Goods Orders Surge
24 U.K. Retails Sales Surge
24 Initial Claims for Jobless Insurance Below 400,000
23 Japanese Consumer Sentiment Improves
23 Rates Up, Mortgage Applications Down Sharply
23 Oil & Gas Prices Well Off Highs
22 Italian Consumer Confidence Improves But Still Tenuous
22 Chain Stores Add To Sales Gain
21 May Trade Data for the Euro-zone Show Declines in Exports and Imports
21 U.S. June Budget in Small Surplus 
21 Leading Indicators Up
18 Consumer Sentiment Up Slightly
18 More Whiffs of U.S. Reflation
17 Philadelphia Fed Index Improved
17 Initial Claims for Jobless Insurance Fell
17 Housing Starts Strong
17 NBER Determined the Recession Ended in November 2001
16 Housing Market Index Higher
16 Business Inventories Fell
16 Mortgage Applications Up a Bit
16 Industrial Production Up Slightly, Factory Output Surged
16 CPI Tame
15 German Investors' Confidence Takes a Big Jump But Economic Outlook Still Tenuous
15 Chain Store Sales Jump Further
15 Empire State Factory Survey Showed Third Month of Gain
15 Retail Sales Rose As Expected
14 Stock Markets in Latin America Outpace Other Major Areas
14 OECD Leaders Up A Little
11 U.S. Trade Deficit Stable
11 Higher Energy Prices Raised The June PPI, Core Prices Fell
10 Import Prices Up
10 Initial Jobless Insurance Claims Again Higher
9 Mortgage Applications Plunge
9 Consumer Credit Use Up Again
8 Chain Store Sales Jump
8 Looks Like The Recession Ended Late in 2001
7 Chicago Fed National Activity Index Up in May
3 ISM Nonmanufacturing Index Up
3 Initial Jobless Insurance Claims Rose
3 Unemployment Rate Surged, Payrolls Down Again
2 Factory Inventories Down Again
2 Mortgage Applications Rose
2 U.S. Light Vehicle Sales Up Slightly
1 Construction Spending Fell Again
1 Challenger Layoffs Down Again
1 Improved Sentiment at Large Japanese Manufacturing Companies
1 ISM Factory Index Rose Less Than Expected
1 Chain Store Sales Slump
June2003
30 A Slight Improvement in Confidence in the Eurozone 
30 Chicago Purchasing Agents' Index Improved
27 Consumer Sentiment Down but Firmer Than Expected
27 Personal Income & Spending Rose, Prices Fell
26 Help Wanted Advertising Still Depressed
26 Initial Jobless Insurance Claims Down Sharply
26 1Q GDP Revised Down, Profits Stronger
25 Fed Funds Rate Cut a Quarter Point by FOMC
25 Existing Home Sales Stronger Than Expected
25 New Home Sales Surge
25 Mortgage Applications Fell
25 Durable Goods Orders Slip
24 Italian Consumer Confidence Continues to Slide
24 Consumer Confidence About Flat
24 Chain Store Sales Up Again
23 Inflation and Deflation in the Pacific Rim
20 U.S. Budget Deficit Deepened
20 Philadelphia Fed Index Higher
19 Leading Indicators Surge
19 U.S. Current Account Deficit Deeper in 1Q
19 Initial Jobless Insurance Claims Slipped
18 Mortgage Applications Up
17 Evidence of the Impact of SARS in China
17 Thailand’s First Quarter GDP Growth Above Consensus
17 U.S. Manpower Hiring Index Down Sharply
17 Chain Store Sales Better
17 Industrial Production Up Slightly
17 Housing Starts Recover
17 Consumer Price Index Flat, Core Boosted by Higher Services Prices
16 Housing Market Index Rose Again
16 Empire State Factory Survey Higher
13 Consumer Sentiment Sagged Unexpectedly
13 U.S. Trade Deficit Deep and As Expected
13 Producer Prices Fell Again
12 Business Inventories Rose
12 Initial Jobless Insurance Claims Remained High
12 Import Prices Weak
12 Retail Sales Up, Less Autos & Gasoline Firm
11 Mortgage Applications Fell
10 Monetary Policy: Some Whiff of Reflation?
10 Chain Store Sales Down
9 Consumer Credit Usage Surged
6 Unemployment Rate Highest Since 1994, Payrolls Fell
5 Factory Sector Shift From Meaningful Inventory Accumulation
5 Initial Jobless Insurance Claims Rose
4 U.S. Light Vehicle Sales Slip
4 ISM Nonmanufacturing Index Up
4 Mortgage Applications Rise to Record
4 1Q Productivity Revised Higher
3 Continuing Weak Data from the Euro-zone Suggest a Reduction in the ECB's Benchmark Interest Rate
3 Challenger Layoffs Fell Sharply
3 Commodity Prices Up A Bit, Oil Prices Recover
3 Chain Store Sales Flat
2 Construction Spending Fell Again
2 ISM Indicates Factory Activity Improved Some
May2003
30 Consumer Sentiment Up in May
30 Chicago Purchasing Agents' Index Over 50
30 Personal Income Unchanged, Spending Down
29 Chicago Fed National Activity Index Lower
29 Help Wanted Advertising Lower Still
29 Jobless Insurance Claims Fell
29 1Q GDP Revisions Minor, Profits Up
28 Chain Store Sales Ticked Higher
28 Mortgage Applications Up, Refi's Surge Further
28 Durable Goods Orders Down
27 Confidence Weakens in Italy and West Germany
27 Consumer Confidence Up Again
27 New Home Sales Up
27 Existing Home Sales Up Sharply
23 OECD Leaders Down
22 Initial Claims for Jobless Insurance Unexpectedly Rose
21 Where's the Price Deflation?
21 Mortgage Applications Up, Refi's Surge
20 French GDP Edges Up in the First Quarter of 2003
20 U.S. April Budget Surplus Leanest Since 1995  
20 Chain Store Sales Slipped Again
19 Deflation Intensifies in Japan
19 Leading Indicators Rose Slightly
16 Consumer Sentiment Again Firmer Than Expected
16 Housing Starts Down
16 Consumer Price Index Fell, Core Flat
15 Housing Market Index Up
15 Philadelphia Fed Index Improved Some
15 Empire State Factory Survey Improved
15 Business Inventories Accumulate Further
15 Industrial Production Down Again
15 Initial Jobless Insurance Claims Down Sharply
15 Producer Prices Down a Record Amount
14 Mortgage Applications Rose Further, Rates at Record Lows
14 Lower Oil Prices Pulled Import Prices Down
14 Retail Sales Dip
13 A Small Rise in German Business Confidence
13 Chain Store Sales Down Slightly
13 U.S. Trade Deficit Deepened Unexpectedly
12 ECRI Leading Indicators Move Up
9 The Economic News from Germany Continues to be Discouraging
9 Gasoline Prices Fell Further
8 Initial Jobless Insurance Claims Fell Again
7 Consumer Credit Usage Remained Weak
7 U.S. Dollar Down Broadly
7 Mortgage Applications Surged, Purchase Applications Set Record
6 FOMC Left Interest Rates Unchanged
6 Chain Store Sales Surged to Record Level
5 Challenger Survey of Layoff Announcements Up Sharply
5 ISM Nonmanufacturing Index Rebounded
5 Chicago Fed National Activity Index Negative
2 Factory Inventories About Unchanged
2 U.S. Light Vehicle Sales Rose, As Expected
2 Unemployment Up, Nonfarm Payrolls Down
1 Construction Spending Down
1 ISM Indicates Further Contraction in Factory Activity
1 Initial Jobless Insurance Claims Down
1 1Q Productivity Up
April 2003
30 Mortgage Applications Down Modestly
30 Chicago Purchasing Agents' Index Below 50 for Second Month
29 Continued Erosion of Business Confidence in France and Germany
29 Chain Store Sales Gave Back Much of Prior Week's Gain
29 Consumer Confidence Jumped
29 Employment Cost Index Surged
28 Personal Income and Spending Up
25 Existing Home Sales Down Again
25 New Home Sales Up Unexpectedly
25 Consumer Sentiment Firmer Than Expected
25 1Q GDP Grew Modestly
24 Help Wanted Advertising At New Low
24 Durable Goods Orders Surged
24 Initial Jobless Insurance Claims Up Again
23 Oil and Other Commodity Prices Stabilize
23 Mortgage Applications Down for Fifth Week
22 Consumer Are Still Apprehensive in Europe