Economy in Brief: 2017

The cost of energy products is moving higher. Regular gasoline prices rose to $2.38 per gallon (17.2% y/y) last week, the highest level since early in June. Prices remained down from a 2014 high of $3.71 per gallon. Haver Analytics [...]

Manufacturing PMI data for the most part show ongoing expansion and improvement. Of the 17 key manufacturing reporters in the table, only five show manufacturing PMI values below 50 indicating sector contraction. Only five have [...]

The value of construction put-in-place increased 0.9% during November following a 0.6% October gain, revised from 0.5%. Construction was up 4.1% y/y following stronger growth from 2012 through 2015. The latest rise compared to [...]

Manufacturing sector activity continues to strengthen. The ISM composite index of factory sector activity increased to 54.7 during December from an unrevised 53.2 during November. It was highest reading since December 2014. [...]