Economy in Brief: June 2017

Initial unemployment insurance claims increased to 248,000 (-7.5% y/y) during the week ended May 27 from 235,000 during the prior week, revised from 234,000. Expectations called for 238,000 claims in the Action Economics Forecast [...]

The ISM factory sector composite index, at 54.9, was little changed last month from April's reading of 54.8. The figure has been trending higher since Q4'15. A level of 54.8 had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. A [...]

Business hiring remains firm. The ADP/Moody's National Employment Report indicated that private nonfarm payrolls increased 253,000 (2.1% y/y) during May following a 174,000 April rise, revised from 177,000. A 180,000 increase had been [...]

The value of construction put-in-place dipped 1.4% in April, following sharp weather-related gains totaling 3.9% in the first three months of the year. The April decline compares to expectations for a 0.5% gain in the Action Economics [...]