Haver Analytics
Haver Analytics
Global| Jan 23 2008

Chicago Fed National Activity Index Remained Negative

Summary

The National Activity Index (CFNAI) from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago during December, at -0.91, was negative for the fifth consecutive month after having been negative for virtually all of last year. The three month moving [...]


The National Activity Index (CFNAI) from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago during December, at -0.91, was negative for the fifth consecutive month after having been negative for virtually all of last year. The three month moving average of the index at -0.67 was its lowest since 2003.

The Chicago Fed indicated that each of the four broad categories of indicators— employment, production, consumption and housing—made negative contributions to the index last month.

A zero value of the CFNAI indicates that the economy is expanding at its historical trend rate of growth and during the last twenty years there has been a 68% correlation between the level of the CFNAI and q/q growth in real GDP.

The CFNAI is a weighted average of 85 indicators of economic activity. The indicators reflect activity in the following categories: production & income, the labor market, personal consumption & housing, manufacturing & trade sales, and inventories & orders.

The complete CFNAI report is available here.

Despite Increased Risks, Global Growth to Remain Solid in 2008 from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta can be found here

Chicago Fed December November Dec. '06 2007 2006 2005
CFNAI -0.91 -0.29 -0.43 -0.39 0.03 0.28
  • Prior to joining Haver Analytics in 2000, Mr. Moeller worked as the Economist at Chancellor Capital Management from 1985 to 1999. There, he developed comprehensive economic forecasts and interpreted economic data for equity and fixed income portfolio managers. Also at Chancellor, Mr. Moeller worked as an equity analyst and was responsible for researching and rating companies in the economically sensitive automobile and housing industries for investment in Chancellor’s equity portfolio.   Prior to joining Chancellor, Mr. Moeller was an Economist at Citibank from 1979 to 1984.   He also analyzed pricing behavior in the metals industry for the Council on Wage and Price Stability in Washington, D.C.   In 1999, Mr. Moeller received the award for most accurate forecast from the Forecasters' Club of New York. From 1990 to 1992 he was President of the New York Association for Business Economists.   Mr. Moeller earned an M.B.A. in Finance from Fordham University, where he graduated in 1987. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from George Washington University.

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