Economy in Brief: 2019

Retail gasoline prices held steady last week at $2.58 per gallon (+5.1% y/y). Typically, gasoline prices weaken this time of year. After applying the seasonal factor constructed by Haver Analytics, gasoline prices increased to $2.69 [...]

The value of construction put-in-place fell 0.8% (+1.1% y/y) during October following a 0.3% September decline, revised from +0.5%. August's 1.1% increase was revised from -0.3%. A 0.4% October rise had been expected in the Action [...]

The ISM Manufacturing Diffusion Index eased to 48.1 during November after rising slightly to 48.3 in October. A reading of 49.1 had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Since 2009, there has been a 71% correlation [...]

Manufacturers' orders for durable goods declined 1.1% (-5.4% y/y) during September...... The durable goods figures are available in Haver's USECON database. The Action Economics consensus forecast figure is in the AS1REPNA database. [...]

The Chicago Business Barometer fell sharply to 43.2 during October........ The MNI Chicago Report is produced by MNI in partnership with ISM-Chicago. The survey covers a sample of over 200 purchasing professionals in the Chicago area [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance declined 15,000 to 213,000 (-9.0% year-on-year) during the week ending November 23. The previous week was revised slightly higher to 228,000 (was 227,000). The late Thanksgiving holiday may [...]

Personal consumption expenditures rose 0.3% (3.7% y/y) during October after an unrevised 0.2% September rise. The increase matched expectations in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. In constant dollars, spending edged 0.1% higher [...]

The Chicago Purchasing Managers Business Barometer rose less than expected to 46.3 in November reversing some of October’s decline to 43.2, which was the lowest level in four years. September’s value was 47.1. All of these readings [...]