Initial claims for jobless insurance fell further last week with the passage of Hurricane Sandy. Claims dropped during the week ended December 8 to 343,000 from 372,000 in the prior period, initially reported as 370,000. Consensus [...]
Introducing
Tom Moeller
in:Our Authors
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.
Publications by Tom Moeller
Global| Dec 13 2012U.S. Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance Decline After Storm's Effect
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Dec 13 2012
U.S. Retail Sales Restrained By Lower Gas Prices
Total retail sales recovered 0.3% last month following an unrevised 0.3% October decline. A 0.4% rise November sales had been expected according to Action Economics. Retail sales were unchanged excluding autos, as expected, for the [...]
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Dec 12 2012
FOMC Will Continue Accommodative Policy and Asset Purchases
As expected, the Federal Open Market Committee today left the Federal funds rate in a "range from 0 to 1/4 percent". The Fed funds rate has remained unchanged since late-2008 at its lowest level ever. The discount rate also was left [...]
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Dec 12 2012
U.S. Mortgage Applications Jump; Lower Rates Spur Refinancings
The Mortgage Bankers Association index of total mortgage applications jumped 6.2% last week (37.5% y/y) after a 4.5% rise during the prior week. The rise was paced by an 8.0% surge (46.7% y/y) in applications to refinance an existing [...]
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Dec 12 2012
U.S. Gasoline Prices Are Down Again As Crude Oil Prices Fall
The pump price for a gallon of regular gasoline declined four cents last week (+1.9% y/y) to $3.35 per gallon. Since their September peak, prices have fallen fifty three cents per gallon. The norm for this time of year of less driving [...]
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Dec 12 2012
U.S. Import Prices Ease With Lower Oil Prices
Declines in petroleum prices lowered overall U.S. import costs by 0.9% last month and by 1.6% y/y. That followed a 0.3% October rise, initially reported as 1.5%. The Action Economics survey looked for a 0.5% fall. Petroleum prices led [...]
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Dec 11 2012
U.S. Chain Store Sales Continue Lower
Consumer spending is under pressure according to the latest report from the International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs. Chain store sales fell 0.7% last week and added to the 3.1% drop during the prior period. The [...]
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Dec 11 2012
U.S. Small Business Optimism Evaporates
The National Federation of Independent Business indicated that its November Index of Small Business Optimism collapsed to 87.5 from 93.1 in October. The figure was its lowest since March 2010. A net negative 35% of firms expected the [...]
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Dec 11 2012
U.S. JOLTS: Job Openings Rate Improves While Layoffs Decline
Labor market improvement continues according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings & Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). The October job openings rate rose to 2.7% from an unrevised 2.6%. That equaled the highest rate for the [...]
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Dec 11 2012
U.S. Trade Deficit Deteriorates With Higher Oil Prices
The U.S. foreign trade deficit during October deepened to $42.2B from $40.3B in September, revised from $41.5B. A $42.6B deficit had been expected. The deterioration occurred as imports fell 2.1% (-0.8% y/y) versus the 3.6% decline [...]
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Dec 10 2012
U.S. Consumer Credit Usage Continues To Heat Up
Consumers are using their borrowing ability to keep spending. Consumer credit outstanding jumped $14.2B during October following a revised $12.2B September increase, initially reported as $11.4B, according to Federal Reserve figures [...]
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
- Global| Dec 07 2012
U.S. Job Market Continues To Improve Despite Hurricane Sandy
Nonfarm payrolls grew 146,000 during November following gains of 138,000 and 132,000 during the prior two months, revised down from 171,000 and 148,000, respectively. A 110,000 increase was expected. As measured in the household [...]
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
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