Carol Stone, CBE

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<img align="left" border="0" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/040422c.jpg">
Labor market conditions are mixed in three countries reporting data today. Unemployment rates are high and/or rising in Israel and Poland, but easing in Russia. At the same time, employment patterns don&#39;t necessarily match the behavior of the unemployment rate.
In Israel, unemployment is climbing gradually, with March&#39;s 11.0% rate the highest in the eight-year history of these data. This is accompanied by divergent trends in measures of employment. The number of employed persons, a quarterly series, has been rising, as indicated in the accompanying chart. But the number of jobs, both including and excluding those offered to Palestinian Authority workers, has been basically flat for the last couple of years.
In Poland, where unemployment is also rising, employment data are the mirror image, falling markedly, as might be expected and <img align="right" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/040422d.jpg" width="353"> generating the higher trend in unemployment. Notably, though, Poland&#39;s neighbors appear to be doing better, as employment in the Czech Republic is largely flat and mostly rising in Hungary and Slovakia.
Employment in Russia is also moving ahead, albeit somewhat erratically, while its unemployment rate is declining. Indeed, the progress in Russia looks favorable by other gauges as well, including production growth and GDP, with a distinct recovery evident beginning in 1999 after the country&#39;s plunge to debt default in 1998.
Yesterday, in this space, we cited evidence of the emergence of a broadening recovery in world trade. That should help jobs and unemployment conditions in many countries. Perhaps it&#39;s too early to expect this everywhere, but the mixed pattern in these countries today suggests that country-specific circumstances can get in the way, slowing desired improvements, even as neighboring nations do better.

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
<colgroup><col><col><col><col><col><col><col></colgroup>
<thead>
<tr>
<th scope="col" class="firstcol">Percent</th>
<th scope="col">Mar</th>
<th scope="col">Feb</th>
<th scope="col">Jan</th>
<th scope="col">Year Ago</th>
<th scope="col">2003</th>
<th scope="col">2002</th>
<th scope="col">2001</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">Israel (NSA)</td>
<td>n.a.</td>
<td>11.0</td>
<td>10.9</td>
<td>10.5</td>
<td>10.7</td>
<td>10.4</td>
<td>9.4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">Poland (SA)</td>
<td>19.6</td>
<td>19.6</td>
<td>19.8</td>
<td>19.7</td>
<td>19.9</td>
<td>17.8</td>
<td>16.2</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">Russia (SA)</td>
<td>7.7</td>
<td>7.6</td>
<td>7.6</td>
<td>8.6</td>
<td>8.5</td>
<td>8.0</td>
<td>9.0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</body>
</html>

Labor market conditions are mixed in three countries reporting data today. Unemployment rates are high and/or rising in Israel and Poland, but easing in Russia. At the same time, employment patterns don't necessarily match the [...]

Unemployment Rates on Varying Paths in Israel, Poland & Russia

Tom Moeller

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<img align="left" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/040422a.jpg" width="353">
Finished producer prices jumped 0.5% higher last month following a 0.1% February uptick. The surge matched consensus expectations. The core PPI also rose a moderate 0.2% following the 0.1% February rise. A 0.1% increase in the core PPI had been the Consensus expectation.
Finished food prices jumped 1.5% (5.3% y/y) in March. Pricing strength during the last year has been broad based. Energy prices rose 0.6% (-0.4% y/y)
Finished consumer goods prices surged 0.7% after the tame 0.1% increase in February. Less food &amp; energy finished consumer goods prices rose 0.3% (0.6% y/y following no change in February. Consumer durable prices rose 0.6% (+0.4% y/y) after a 0.2% February drop. Core non-durable prices fell 0.1% (+0.7% y/y) after 0.2% increases in the prior two months.
Finished capital goods prices rose 0.3% (0.8% y/y) after no change in February. That gain was fueled by a 0.8% (-1.6% y/y) recovery in light truck prices after a 1.9% February drop.
Intermediate goods prices again were strong, rising 0.7%. Core intermediate prices climbed 0.6% (2.9% y/y) led by an 8.6% jump in plywood prices (49.1% y/y) after a 15.2% spike in February.
Crude goods prices were tame as crude energy prices fell 6.1% (-26.5% y/y) after no change in February. Lower natural gas prices (-40.3% y/y) account for recent weakness. Prices for core crude goods jumped 2.7% as metals prices continued to spike higher.
&quot;Decomposing Inflation&quot; from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta can be found <a href="http://www.frbatlanta.org/invoke.cfm?objectid=825437DF-B173-FAB1-3D72FA96A8E8B7D3&amp;method=display_body#bauer">here</a>. 

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
<colgroup><col><col><col><col><col><col></colgroup>
<thead>
<tr>
<th scope="col" class="firstcol"><a href="http://www.haverselect.com/dlx/USECON/@E8/@E802/@E80201/@E80201.HTM"> Producer Price Index</a></th>
<th scope="col">Mar</th>
<th scope="col">Feb</th>
<th scope="col">Y/Y</th>
<th scope="col"> 2003</th>
<th scope="col">2002</th>
<th scope="col">2001</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">Finished Goods</td>
<td>0.5%</td>
<td>0.1%</td>
<td>1.4%</td>
<td>3.2%</td>
<td>-1.3%</td>
<td>2.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp; Core</td>
<td>0.2%</td>
<td>0.1%</td>
<td>0.7%</td>
<td>0.2%</td>
<td>0.1%</td>
<td>1.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">Intermediate Goods</td>
<td>0.7%</td>
<td>0.9%</td>
<td>1.3%</td>
<td>4.7%</td>
<td>-1.5%</td>
<td>0.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp; Core</td>
<td>0.6%</td>
<td>0.9%</td>
<td>2.9%</td>
<td>2.0%</td>
<td>-0.5%</td>
<td>-0.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">Crude Goods</td>
<td>0.7%</td>
<td>2.5%</td>
<td>-1.6%</td>
<td>25.0%</td>
<td>-10.6%</td>
<td>0.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp; Core</td>
<td>2.7%</td>
<td>5.5%</td>
<td>29.8%</td>
<td>12.3%</td>
<td>3.8%</td>
<td>-10.0%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Jobless Claims Down 
by <a href="/comment/Moeller.html">Tom Moeller</a> April 22, 2004


<img align="left" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/040422b.jpg" width="353">
Initial claims for jobless insurance fell 9,000 last week to 353,000 but fell short of Consensus expectations for a decline to 345,000 claims. Claims during the prior week were revised up slightly.
The 4-week moving average of initial claims rose to 347,000 (-19.5% y/y), the highest level since late February.
Continuing claims for unemployment insurance jumped 52,000 in the latest week but claims so far in April remained 1.5% below the March average.
The insured rate of unemployment was unchanged at 2.4% for the seventh consecutive week. This unemployment rate averaged 2.8% during 2002 and 2003.

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
<colgroup><col><col><col><col><col><col></colgroup>
<thead>
<tr>
<th scope="col" class="firstcol"> <a href="http://www.haverselect.com/dlx/WEEKLY/@W5/@W507/@W507.HTM"> Unemployment Insurance (000s)</a></th>
<th scope="col"> 4/17/04</th>
<th scope="col">4/10/04</th>
<th scope="col">Y/Y</th>
<th scope="col"> 2003</th>
<th scope="col">2002</th>
<th scope="col">2001</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">Initial Claims</td>
<td>&nbsp;&nbsp; 353</td>
<td>362</td>
<td>-20.5%</td>
<td>403</td>
<td>404</td>
<td>406</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">Continuing Claims</td>
<td>&nbsp;&nbsp; --</td>
<td>3,019</td>
<td>-15.3%</td>
<td>3,533</td>
<td>3,573</td>
<td>3,023</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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Finished producer prices jumped 0.5% higher last month following a 0.1% February uptick. The surge matched consensus expectations. The core PPI also rose a moderate 0.2% following the 0.1% February rise. A 0.1% increase in the core [...]

PPI Goosed By Food & Light Trucks

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<img align="left" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/040421b.jpg" width="353">
Trade flows are increasing. Three large, but otherwise very diverse countries reported trade data today which show markedly rising trends in BOTH exports and imports. This development indicates widespread gains in economic activity, that is, in the demand for goods in many parts of the world.
Japan&#39;s trade surplus is larger in 2004 through March than in recent years, but this is because exports have increased considerably more than imports.
In Italy, imports are growing, while exports are uneven. More detailed data suggest that energy imports are not the source of the rise in imports; as we explained here a week ago in discussing relative inflation rates, the rise in the euro through February may have held down the euro value of dollar-priced oil imports in such places as Italy.
For exports, the uneven pattern in recent months is actually an improvement, following a declining trend from late 2000 through early last year.
In India, where we cite US dollar-denominated figures, both exports and imports have climbed sharply. Commentary from the Indian government relates that March exports were affected by changes in reporting practices that speed up the processing of shipments information. But this is only a partial explanation, as indicted by the steeply rising trend throughout the period shown in the table and chart. The behavior of both kinds of trade flows in India thus corresponds to what we believe intuitively about the Indian economy. It is being strengthened by the role of outsourcing, so imports possibly of both intermediate and consumer goods may be rising even as exports increasingly make inroads into world markets.

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">

</table>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
<colgroup><col><col><col><col><col></colgroup>
<thead>
<tr>
<th scope="col" class="firstcol">&nbsp;</th>
<th scope="col">Mar</th>
<th scope="col">Feb</th>
<th scope="col">Jan</th>
<th scope="col">Year Ago</th>
Monthly Average
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">2003</td>
<td>2002</td>
<td>2001</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">Japan: Trade Balance (Bil.Yen)</td>
<td>1010</td>
<td>1184</td>
<td>1038</td>
<td>641</td>
<td>850</td>
<td>826</td>
<td>562</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp; Exports</td>
<td>4864</td>
<td>4802</td>
<td>4892</td>
<td>4359</td>
<td>4546</td>
<td>4345</td>
<td>4091</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp; Imports</td>
<td>3854</td>
<td>3618</td>
<td>3854</td>
<td>3717</td>
<td>3696</td>
<td>3519</td>
<td>3529</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">Italy: Trade Balance (Mil.Euros)</td>
<td>n.a.</td>
<td>-246</td>
<td>-711</td>
<td>+6</td>
<td>+56</td>
<td>+699</td>
<td>+817</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp; Exports</td>
<td>n.a.</td>
<td>21799</td>
<td>20651</td>
<td>21088</td>
<td>21292</td>
<td>22144</td>
<td>22515</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp; Imports</td>
<td>n.a.</td>
<td>22045</td>
<td>21362</td>
<td>21082</td>
<td>21237</td>
<td>21445</td>
<td>21699</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">India: Trade&nbsp;&nbsp; Balance (Mil.US$)</td>
<td>-172</td>
<td>-1866</td>
<td>-1560</td>
<td>-1105</td>
<td>-1245</td>
<td>-601</td>
<td>-569</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp; Exports</td>
<td>6518</td>
<td>5819</td>
<td>5037</td>
<td>4589</td>
<td>4670</td>
<td>4110</td>
<td>3591</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp; Imports</td>
<td>6690</td>
<td>7685</td>
<td>6597</td>
<td>5694</td>
<td>5916</td>
<td>4711</td>
<td>4159</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</body>
</html>

Trade flows are increasing. Three large, but otherwise very diverse countries reported trade data today which show markedly rising trends in BOTH exports and imports. This development indicates widespread gains in economic activity, [...]

Trade Expanding in Japan, Italy & India

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<img align="left" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/040421a.jpg" width="353">
The index of mortgage applications compiled by the Mortgage Bankers Association dropped another 5.6% (-29.5% y/y) last week, for the fourth consecutive steep weekly decline.
Applications to refinance tumbled 10.9% (-50% y/y) on the heels of a 30.7% drop the prior week.
Purchase applications ticked up 0.4% w/w (+20.6% y/y) after a 9.5% decline the prior week. So far in April purchase applications are 1.0% ahead of the March average.
The effective interest rate on a conventional 30-Year mortgage rose to 6.11% from 6.03% the week prior and versus 5.65% averaged in March. The effective rate on a 15-year mortgage rose to 5.49% from 5.45% the week prior and from 5.00% in March.
During the last ten years there has been a 56% correlation between the y/y change in purchase applications and the change in new plus existing home sales.
The Mortgage Bankers Association surveys between 20 to 35 of the top lenders in the U.S. housing industry to derive its refinance, purchase and market indexes. The weekly survey accounts for more than 40% of all applications processed each week by mortgage lenders. Visit the Mortgage Bankers Association site <a href="http://www.mbaa.org"> here</a>.
Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan&#39;s testimony before the Joint Economic Committee on the economic outlook is available <a href="http://www.federalreserve.gov/BoardDocs/Testimony/2004/20040421/default.htm"> here</a>.

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">

</table>
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<colgroup><col><col><col><col><col></colgroup>
<thead>
<tr>
<th scope="col" class="firstcol"><a href="http://www.haverselect.com/dlx/SURVEYW/@S5/@S5.HTM"> MBA Mortgage Applications (3/16/90=100)</a></th>
<th scope="col">04/16/04</th>
<th scope="col">04/09/04</th>
<th scope="col"> 2003</th>
<th scope="col">2002</th>
<th scope="col">2001</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">Total Market Index</td>
<td>744.5</td>
<td>788.6</td>
<td>1,067.9</td>
<td>799.7</td>
<td>625.6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp; Purchase</td>
<td>434.1</td>
<td>432.2</td>
<td>395.1</td>
<td>354.7</td>
<td>304.9</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp; Refinancing</td>
<td>2,550.3</td>
<td>2,861.6</td>
<td>4,981.8</td>
<td>3,388.0</td>
<td>2,491.0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</body>
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The index of mortgage applications compiled by the Mortgage Bankers Association dropped another 5.6% (-29.5% y/y) last week, for the fourth consecutive steep weekly decline. Applications to refinance tumbled 10.9% (-50% y/y) on the [...]

Mortgage Applications Fell Further, Rates Continued to Rise

Louise Curley

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<img align="left" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/040420b.jpg" width="353">
Institutional investors and analysts poled by the ZEW Center for European Economic Research are losing confidence in the German recovery. The ZEW indicator of economic sentiment, while still positive, indicating that the optimists outweigh the pessimists, fell to 49.7 in April. This was the fourth month of decline and is now 32% below the peak of December 2002.
Using industrial production, excluding construction, as a proxy for the economy, we find, according to the attached chart, that the Zew indicator tends to lead economic activity. As a result, the recent trend in the Zew indicator suggests that the economic recovery in Germany may be fall far short of previous expectations.
Institutional investors and analysts continue to view the stock market more favorably than the bond market. The stock market indicator in April was 6.7, up 0.6 points from March to April and 0.7 points above April 2003. The bond market indicator in April was -6.8, an increase of 0.1 points from March, but 3.9 points below the year ago figure.

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
<colgroup><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col></colgroup>
<thead>
<tr>
<th scope="col" class="firstcol">Zew Indicators</th>
<th scope="col">Apr 04</th>
<th scope="col">Mar 04</th>
<th scope="col">Apr 03</th>
<th scope="col">M/M&nbsp; &nbsp;chg</th>
<th scope="col">Y/Y&nbsp; &nbsp;chg</th>
<th scope="col">2003</th>
<th scope="col">2002</th>
<th scope="col">2001</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp; Economic Sentiment</td>
<td>49.7</td>
<td>57.6</td>
<td>14.0</td>
<td>-7.9</td>
<td>31.3</td>
<td>38.4</td>
<td>45.3</td>
<td>2.8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp; Stock Market</td>
<td>6.7</td>
<td>6.1</td>
<td>6.0</td>
<td>0.6</td>
<td>0.7</td>
<td>6.5</td>
<td>2.0</td>
<td>7.3</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp; Bond Market</td>
<td>-6.8</td>
<td>-6.9</td>
<td>-2.9</td>
<td>0.1</td>
<td>-3.9</td>
<td>-4.8</td>
<td>-4.3</td>
<td>0.3</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</body>
</html>

Institutional investors and analysts poled by the ZEW Center for European Economic Research are losing confidence in the German recovery. The ZEW indicator of economic sentiment, while still positive, indicating that the optimists [...]

German Investors and Analysts Losing Confidence in Germany's Recovery

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<img align="left" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/040420a.jpg" width="353">
Chain store sales jumped 1.0% last week following a 0.8% gain the week earlier, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)-UBS survey.
These two strong increases pulled the level of sales in April about even with March.
The ICSC-UBS retail chain-store sales index is constructed using the same-store sales reported by 78 stores of seven retailers: Dayton Hudson, Federated, Kmart, May, J.C. Penney, Sears and Wal-Mart.
During the last ten years there has been a 51% correlation between the year-to-year percent change in the ICSC-UBS measure of chain store sales and consumer sentiment.

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
<colgroup><col><col><col><col><col><col></colgroup>
<thead>
<tr>
<th scope="col" class="firstcol"> <a href="http://www.haverselect.com/dlx/surveyw/@S2/@S2.HTM"> ICSC-UBS (SA, 1977=100)</a></th>
<th scope="col">04/17/04</th>
<th scope="col">04/10/04</th>
<th scope="col">Y/Y</th>
<th scope="col"> 2003</th>
<th scope="col">2002</th>
<th scope="col">2001</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">Total Weekly Retail Chain Store Sales</td>
<td>440.3</td>
<td>436.1</td>
<td>5.9%</td>
<td>2.9%</td>
<td>3.6%</td>
<td>2.1%</td>
</tr>
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</table>
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Chain store sales jumped 1.0% last week following a 0.8% gain the week earlier, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)-UBS survey. These two strong increases pulled the level of sales in April about even [...]

Chain Store Sales Jump

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<img align="left" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/040419b.jpg" width="353">
France&#39;s Current Account has been deteriorating since early 2002. In 2003 it was 53% below the level of 2002. Much of the decline can be attributed to the rise of the euro, which on average rose from .9452 to 1.1317, or about 20%.
The attached chart compares the Euro on an inverted scale with France&#39;s current account balance. The rise in the euro (a decline on the chart) since early 2002 is reflected in the decline of the current account balance.
The euro has recently declined and as of April 19, was 1.2019, or some 6% below the peak reached in January of this year. A lower euro should help to improve France&#39;s current account and the improvement in the current account in February, moving to a positive 1,397 million euros from a negative 409 million euros in January is encouraging. However, the current account for the first two months of the year is still only half that of the first two months of 2002.

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<colgroup><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col></colgroup>
<thead>
<tr>
<th scope="col" class="firstcol">France</th>
<th scope="col">Feb 04</th>
<th scope="col">Jan 04</th>
<th scope="col">Feb&nbsp; 03</th>
<th scope="col">M/M Chg</th>
<th scope="col">Y/Y Chg&nbsp;</th>
<th scope="col">2003</th>
<th scope="col">2002</th>
<th scope="col">2001</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">Current Account&nbsp; (millions of Euros)</td>
<td>1397</td>
<td>-404</td>
<td>727</td>
<td>1806</td>
<td>670</td>
<td>10828</td>
<td>23209</td>
<td>24627</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">US$ vs Euro</td>
<td>1.261</td>
<td>1.2640</td>
<td>1.0785</td>
<td>0.02</td>
<td>17.20</td>
<td>1.1317</td>
<td>.9453</td>
<td>.8955</td>
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France's Current Account has been deteriorating since early 2002. In 2003 it was 53% below the level of 2002. Much of the decline can be attributed to the rise of the euro, which on average rose from .9452 to 1.1317, or about 20%. The [...]

France's Current Account Balance Improves in February, but It Has a Long Way to Go to Reach Previous Highs

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<img align="left" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/040419a.jpg" width="353">
The Composite Index of Leading Economic Indicators reported by the Conference Board rose an expected 0.3% in March. The gain followed no change in February.
The gain reflected increases in 60% of the component series but shorter delivery lead times, as measured by stronger vendor performance, had the largest positive contribution of 0.26%. Over a six-month span 70% of the leading series rose.
The Leading index is based on eight previously reported economic data series and two that are estimated.
The coincident indicators rose 0.2% and 75% of the component series were higher.
The ratio of coincident-to-lagging indicators rose 0.3% to another record level. The ratio is an indicator of excess relative to actual economic performance.
Visit the Conference Board&#39;s <a href="http://www.conference-board.org">site</a> for coverage of leading indicator series from around the world.

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
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<th scope="col" class="firstcol"><a href="http://www.haverselect.com/dlx/BCI/BCI.HTM"> Business Cycle Indicators</a></th>
<th scope="col">Mar</th>
<th scope="col">Feb</th>
<th scope="col">Y/Y</th>
<th scope="col"> 2003</th>
<th scope="col">2002</th>
<th scope="col">2001</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">Leading</td>
<td>0.3%</td>
<td>0.0%</td>
<td>4.4%</td>
<td>1.3%</td>
<td>2.2%</td>
<td>-0.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">Coincident</td>
<td>0.2%</td>
<td>0.3%</td>
<td>1.9%</td>
<td>0.4%</td>
<td>-0.5%</td>
<td>-0.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">Lagging</td>
<td>-0.1%</td>
<td>-0.1%</td>
<td>-3.1%</td>
<td>-2.2%</td>
<td>-2.8%</td>
<td>-1.4%</td>
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The Composite Index of Leading Economic Indicators reported by the Conference Board rose an expected 0.3% in March. The gain followed no change in February. The gain reflected increases in 60% of the component series but shorter [...]

Leading Indicators Continued Uptrend

Cost of transporting crude oil has soared to series high

Market-based inflation expectations have not yet reflected recent surge in oil prices

Global equity markets are fearing a major economic disruption from soaring oil prices

Is recent drop in sentiment signaling softer growth ahead?

With the Iran conflict, geopolitical risk has soared to alarming levels

Soaring AI-related investment in US underpinning strong contribution of business spending to overall growth

AI-related outperformance of IP in Advanced Asia ex Japan

Resilient US economy pushing up Blue Chip 2026 outlook

US and China big leaders in adoption of AI models

Robust US demand for advanced technology products

China's export growth rotating away from the US

More pronounced upward revisions in countries more exposed to AI investment

Stable job openings and hiring rates point to cautious hiring

Global freight costs are on the rise while supply chain pressures are contained

Accelerating positive economic surprises in the G10 are boosting the global economy

Considerably more monetary ease expected from US and UK as Japan tightens

Tighter US immigration enforcement adversely impacting labor force

Economic policy uncertainty, while still elevated, is declining

Gradual disinflation and easier monetary policies across advanced economies

Largest October layoffs since 2003, led by technology

Subdued global shipping costs not yet pointing to supply chain problems

PMIs show still-elevated but slowing US inflation

AI boosting US investment in data centers

US productivity growth has been significantly faster than in other major economies

Consumers' short-term US inflation expectations still elevated while longer-term expectations of financial markets are steady

Our global data offering is unparalleled in terms of coverage, quality, and organization. We offer 290+ databases from 2500 government and private sources, a wealth of key survey and forecast data covering the world’s economies, and a robust offering of archive databases that drive machine learning for big data applications.

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Winnie Tapasanun

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The U.S. ISM Services PMI decreased to 54.0 in March following a 2.3-point rise to 56.1 in February (the highest reading since July 2022), according to today’s report by the Institute for Supply Management, indicating expansion in the services sector for the 21st consecutive month but at a slower pace. The March index, while above 50.8 in March 2025 and a low of 49.4 in June 2024, remained below a high of 55.5 in October 2024 and a record-high 67.5 in November 2021. The 12-month average was 52.3, pointing to continued growth in the U.S. services sector. The Action Economics Forecast Survey had expected 54.9 for March.

Haver Analytics constructs a composite index combining the services index and the manufacturing reading. This index fell to 53.8 in March after a 2.0-point increase to 55.7 in February, signaling expansion for the 10th straight month, albeit at a slower rate. The latest reading was above 50.6 in March 2025 and a low of 49.3 in June 2024, while remaining below a record-high 66.7 in November 2021. These series date back to July 1997.

In the latest services survey, the business activity index declined to 53.9 in March after rising to 59.9 in February, indicating continued expansion in business activity for 21 consecutive months, though at the slowest pace since September. The index was above a low of 50.0 in June 2024 but below a record-high 70.9 in November 2021. In March, 22.8% of respondents (NSA) reported higher activity while 14.6% reported an activity decline. The new orders index rose to 60.6 in March after increasing to 58.6 in February, reflecting expansion in new orders for the 10th straight month and the highest level since February 2023. The index was above its recent low of 47.2 in May 2025 but below a high of 61.0 in February 2023 and a record-high 69.2 in October 2021. In March, 32.0% of respondents (NSA) reported higher new orders while a lessened 12.6% reported declines. Meanwhile, the supplier deliveries index (NSA) increased to 56.2 in March from 53.9 in February, indicating slower supplier delivery performance for the 16th straight month after one month in faster territory in November 2024.

On the labor front, the employment index fell to 45.2 in March after rising to 51.8 in February, showing employment activity in the services sector contracted for the first time since November and at the lowest level since December 2023. The latest reading was above a low of 43.5 in December 2023 but below a high of 54.1 in June 2023 and a high of 58.9 in April 2021. A reduced 10.7% of respondents (NSA) indicated higher employment in March while an increased 18.4% reported declines.

On the inflation front, the prices index jumped to 70.7 in March from 63.0 in February, indicating prices paid by services organizations for materials and services had risen (i.e., above 50) since June 2017 and at the fastest pace since October 2022. The index was above a low of 53.9 in March 2024 and a low of 55.1 in June 2023 but significantly below a peak of 83.7 in March 2022. An increased 45.7% of respondents (NSA) reported higher prices in March while only 1.2% reported price declines.

Additionally, the new export orders index dropped to 50.7 in March from 57.2 in February, showing new export orders expanded for the third time in four months but at a slower rate. The imports index rose to 55.2 in March from 51.8 in February, registering the third expansion in four months and the highest level since January 2024. The inventories index declined to 54.8 in March from 56.4 in February, indicating inventories expanded for the fourth time in five months but at a slower pace. The inventory sentiment index slipped to 54.3 in March from 55.3 in February, showing continued expansion since May 2023. The backlog of orders index fell to 53.6 in March from 55.9 in February, marking the second successive month of expansion following 11 straight months of contraction. These series are not seasonally adjusted and not included in the ISM Services PMI total.

The ISM Services PMI is a composite index consisting of four equally weighted diffusion indexes: Business Activity, New Orders, Employment, and Supplier Deliveries. A reading above 50 indicates expansion in the services sector; below 50 suggests contraction. Supplier Deliveries is the only ISM index that is inversed; a reading above 50 indicates slower deliveries. The ISM figures are available in Haver's **USECON** database, with additional detail in the **SURVEYS** database. The expectations figure from Action Economics is in the **AS1REPNA** database.

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- ISM Services PMI at 54.0 in Mar., down 2.1 pts. from Feb.; below forecasts but above the 12-month avg. of 52.3.
- Business Activity (53.9, 21st straight month of expansion); New Orders (60.6, 10th consecutive month of expansion and fastest since Feb. ’23); Employment (45.2, first contraction since Nov.); Supplier Deliveries (56.2 vs. 53.9).
- Prices Index (70.7) indicates prices rising since June ’17, the fastest pace since Oct. ’22.

U.S. ISM Services PMI Slips in March, Still Indicating Expansion for the 21st Straight Month

Tian Yong Woon

In this week’s Letter, we examine the first-round price impacts of the surge in oil prices stemming from the ongoing Middle East conflict in Asia. Despite recent rhetoric and reports suggesting a potentially swift resolution, the conflict continues to unfold, with a ceasefire hanging in the balance, and with some measures of shipping volumes through the Strait of Hormuz still reduced to a trickle. At the same time, crude oil prices have been whipsawing amid shifting market perceptions about the persistence of the current supply shock (chart 1). The initial effects of higher oil prices are already showing up in hard data, particularly in energy- and fuel-related inflation across Indonesia, South Korea, and Vietnam (chart 2). In response, several governments have rolled out sizeable subsidy programmes to cushion rising energy costs, though these measures come with significant fiscal strain.

We also assess recent consumer inflation expectations in South Korea and Taiwan, which show early signs of edging higher (chart 3), although there is as yet no clear evidence of a meaningful unanchoring. To add further nuance, our latest Blue Chip survey suggests that most panellists expect only a limited and temporary pass-through from higher energy prices to core inflation, though a non-trivial minority anticipate a more persistent effect (chart 4). On the policy front, respondents broadly expect central banks to delay easing while avoiding outright tightening, with outcomes likely to diverge across regions (chart 5). In the near term, upcoming policy decisions in India, New Zealand, and South Korea—alongside other key data releases—will provide a useful test of these expectations (chart 6).

**The Middle East conflict**
The Middle East conflict continues to rage, with IMF-tracked shipping volumes through the Strait of Hormuz still reduced to a trickle. Meanwhile, crude oil prices remain volatile, gyrating alongside shifting perceptions over how soon normal oil flows might resume. In reality, there is still little sign of a substantive resolution, and no agreement to fully reopen the strait appears imminent, suggesting that oil flows are likely to remain constrained at low levels in the near term. That said, some investors are closely monitoring developments following reports of discussions around a potential 45-day ceasefire, which could pave the way toward a more lasting resolution. Until then, and absent any meaningful supply relief, crude oil prices—and by extension, energy-related inflation—are likely to face continued upward pressure, particularly for oil-dependent, importing economies.

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**Initial price impacts**
The initial inflation concerns among policymakers and investors stemming from the surge in oil prices are now beginning to show up in the data, as illustrated in chart 2. The latest March readings—capturing the period after the onset of the Middle East conflict—already point to a sharp acceleration in energy-related prices on a year-ago basis. Indonesia’s energy CPI basket has risen by around 9%, while diesel prices in South Korea have jumped 17%. Vietnam’s retail gasoline prices have seen an even more pronounced increase, at roughly 25.6%. Given the scale of these price surges, and their direct impact on everyday essentials—particularly fuel for daily commutes and broader economic activity—governments across Asia have begun rolling out sizeable subsidy programmes. These measures, often implemented at significant fiscal cost, aim to cushion the burden on households and firms. For instance, South Korea’s finance ministry proposed a supplementary budget of around $17.3 billion in late March to support low-income households, youth, and businesses amid higher oil prices, with approval expected by April 10. Meanwhile, Indonesia has allocated approximately $22.4 billion toward energy subsidies and support for selected energy and utilities firms to help keep prices affordable.

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**Consumer inflation expectations**
What policymakers are likely to focus on—beyond the immediate price impacts—is how the recent surge in oil prices feeds into inflation expectations. If left unanchored, these expectations could pose a far greater challenge than the supply-driven price shock itself, including reduced monetary policy effectiveness in reining in inflation and the risk of a self-fulfilling inflation cycle—though it is worth noting that such dynamics are not yet close to materialising. So far, there are some early, albeit inconclusive, signs that near-term consumer inflation expectations are beginning to drift higher in certain economies. As shown in chart 3, one-year-ahead inflation expectations edged up to 2.7% in March, while in Taiwan, consumer sentiment regarding domestic price trends over the next six months has turned notably more pessimistic relative to overall confidence.

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**The latest Blue Chip survey**
Turning to investor perspectives on how higher energy prices may feed into inflation, our special questions in the latest Blue Chip Financial Forecasts (BCFF) survey offer some useful nuance. As shown in chart 4, around two-thirds of panellists expect only a limited and temporary pass-through from higher oil prices to core inflation. That said, a non-trivial minority (31%) anticipate a more moderate and persistent pass-through. This is notable given the focus on core inflation, and underscores how energy prices can generate second-round effects even in typically non-energy components, reflecting the pervasive role of energy in everyday economic activity—from manufacturing to the upkeep of a wide range of goods and services.

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Delving deeper, we also asked panellists about their views on the prospective path of central bank policy should energy-driven inflation prove persistent. As shown in chart 5, responses broadly coalesce around two themes: central banks are likely to delay easing rather than tighten, and policy responses will vary meaningfully across regions. The former is already playing out to some extent in recent central bank decisions across Asia, with several explicitly citing the ongoing Middle East conflict as a reason to remain vigilant on inflation and refrain from easing policy prematurely. As for the latter, there are already signs of divergence in how different central banks are approaching the situation.

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**The week ahead**
Looking to the week ahead, there will be ample opportunities to assess whether investor expectations for central bank policy moves play out across Asia, with several rate decisions due—most notably in India, New Zealand, and South Korea. Also on the docket are China’s March CPI print and a range of Japan-related releases. Policymakers are likely to remain focused on balancing inflation control with supporting growth and maintaining currency stability. For now, and absent offsetting domestic factors, expectations for further near-term easing have been tempered by rising inflation risks. In China, recent CPI readings point to a modest pickup, while producer price deflation has begun to ease after a prolonged period of weak or negative inflation.

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Asia

Economic Letter from Asia: First-Round Effects

Michael J. Moran

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The report on payroll employment for March was impressive when viewed in isolation. Job growth was strong at 178,000, and the advance was broadly based. The construction and manufacturing sectors both posted solid gains, and the service-producing sector registered its firmest performance in more than a year. However, the gain might be viewed as a continuation of an unusual bout of random volatility. The March advance followed a notable drop in February (-133,000, revised down from -92,000), which followed an upside surprise in January (160,000, revised up from 126,000).

To be sure, statistical noise has been a factor in the past three months, but the results also represent an encouraging shift in job growth from that in the second half of last year, when employment rose only marginally in the third quarter and fell in the fourth. The net change in the past three months seems to signal that job growth is not drying up. The net advance so far this year is far from brisk, but it is clearly in the plus column and noticeably better than results in late 2025.

The unemployment rate also might be viewed as favorable, as it dipped 0.1 percentage point to 4.3%, although it was a “soft” decline. That is, employment as measured by the household survey declined 64,000, but the size of the labor force fell by a larger amount (off 396,000). Still, the jobless rate has climbed only modestly higher since the labor market started to ease in 2023, and it has inched lower in the past few months.

Unemployment has been contained despite modest hiring because layoffs also have been light. Initial claims for unemployment benefits have moved sideways in the past few years, indicating no change in the pace of layoffs. This pattern is confirmed by terminations data in the report on job openings and labor turnover (JOLTs) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

A supply-side shift in the labor market also has helped to contain the unemployment rate. Growth in the size of the labor force has slowed, and with fewer individuals seeking employment, those searching are more easily absorbed. Measures of the size of the labor force can be difficult to assess because there are breaks in the series every year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics adjusts the population controls used in its estimating procedure every January without revising past data to align with the new estimates. Thus, every January involves a discontinuity in the series, which will distort year-over-year changes.

However, Haver Analytics maintains a smoothed series originally developed by BLS to eliminate the breaks in the labor force data. As shown in the chart below, the smoothed series on the size of the labor force had been growing at a pace centered on 1.2% through 2022, but it has slowed irregularly since then (an observation for October is not available because of limited data collection during the government shutdown). The overall labor force is still growing, but the slower pace means fewer individuals looking for work, which most likely results in fewer being counted as unemployed.

The BLS collects data every month on both native-born and foreign-born individuals in the labor force. The breaks in these series are an issue, and Haver does not maintain smoothed series. However, the use of moving averages achieves enough smoothing to provide a sense of underlying changes. The native-born labor force has moved erratically in the past couple of years, but it has continued to advance. The foreign-born labor force, in contrast, seems to have peaked in mid-2025 and has generally declined since then.

The employment and earnings data are collected from surveys taken each month during the week containing the 12th day of the month. The labor market data are contained in Haver's **USECON** database. Detailed figures are in the **EMPL** and **LABOR** databases. The expectations figures are in the **AS1REPNA** database.

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- The jump of 178,000 in payroll employment in March easily exceeded the expected gain of 51,000.
- Following a net gain in January and February, the employment setting seems to have brightened slightly.
- A dip in the unemployment rate continued the recent pattern of marginal changes.

Payroll Employment: Another Surprise in March, The Third Consecutive

Robert Brusca

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French manufacturing industrial production was flat in February after a January rebound; output rose by 0.2% following a 0.8% decline in December.

The components of industrial production in February showed 2.6% increase in consumer durables, a 0.4% increase in consumer nondurables, flat output from capital goods, and a 0.7% month to month decline in intermediate output.

Sequentially, French output had been growing at a slow, steady pace of 0.8% at an annual rate over both 12 months and six months, but then slipped to a 6.1% contraction at an annual rate over three months. Consumer durable goods output on this span shows consistent increases, but there are no trends to clear acceleration or deceleration. Consumer nondurables trace an accelerating path of moderate means from -1.8% over 12 months, to -0.4% over six months, and then rising at a 5.5% annual rate over three months. Capital goods output is moving in the opposite direction, growing by 3.4% over 12 months, slowing to a 0.7% annual pace over six months, and then contracting at a 9.5% annual rate over three months. Intermediate goods output is falling at 0.8% pace over 12 months, but then it switches to an expansion rate of 0.8% over six months and 0.6% and over three months. There's nothing remarkable about these patterns, except there's some acceleration, some deceleration, and a lot of mulling about at low growth rates.

As a separate item, French auto production is slipping and decelerating, falling by 7.1% at an annual rate over 12 months, falling at a 7.9% pace over six months, and then plunging at a 19.3% annual rate over three months. On these same horizons, motor vehicle registrations fall by 14.7% over 12 months; the weakness pares back to an 11.2% annual rate decline over six months, and then it steps up to a 22.1% decline at an annual rate over three months. French demand for autos is not in good shape.

In the quarter to date—now two months into the first quarter—manufacturing industrial production is falling at a 0.8% annual rate. That pace is boosted by 9.4% annual rate gain in consumer durables output but restrained by just a 0.2% annual rate increase in consumer nondurable goods. Capital goods output is falling at a 1.9% annual rate, while intermediate goods output is falling at a 1% annual rate. Also in the quarter to date, automobile production is plunging at a 24.3% annual rate, while on the demand side, motor vehicle registrations are falling at a 15% annual rate.

French manufacturing data are somewhat confusing. The chart shows that the industrial production trend has been showing consistent increases over 12 months, but it has recently been pulling back relatively sharply. On the other hand, the manufacturing PMI for France has been consistently negative going back to mid-2022 and only in early 2026 has the manufacturing PMI been posting some values above the 50% mark, indicating that output was starting to actually expand. In March, the PMI reading for manufacturing has slipped back by the thinnest margin below the 50% mark.

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Of course, events in the Middle East make everything more speculative, with the war effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz and no certainty about how or when that is going to be sorted out. In the meantime, the potential threat of ongoing oil price pressures has put both the ECB and the Bank of England in a position to be more wary with policy, and they warned markets about the potential for rate hikes as soon as their next meetings are engaged. That also raises questions about the outlook for growth. But we continue to track and chronicle trends in the data. It's also quite clear that we could have events that will play out that could completely undermine these trends before they get a chance to run to conclusion. It's an important time to be wary and watch all developments—a lot is in play.

France

French IP Waffles

Kathleen Stephansen, CBE

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Initial claims for unemployment insurance declined by 9,000 to 202,000 in the week ending March 28, from 211,000 in the week ending March 21, revised from 210,000. The four-week average declined 3,000 to 207,750 in the week ending March 28, from 210,750 the March 21 week, revised from 210,500. The Forecast Survey looked for 212,000 claims to have been filed.

The total number of unemployment insurance beneficiaries—also known as “continuing claims”—rose by 25,000 to 1.841 million in the week ending March 21, from 1.816 million in the week ending March 14. The four-week moving average declined to 1.839 million in the latest week from 1.846 million in the March 14 week. This is the lowest level for this average since September 28, 2024 when it was 1.834 million. The insured unemployment rate remained at 1.2% in the week of March 21. It has remained at that level since the week of November 29, 2025.

The insured unemployment rate varied greatly across individual states and territories. In the week ending March 14, the highest unemployment rates were in Rhode Island (2.83%), New Jersey (2.73%), Massachusetts (2.66%), Washington (2.39%), Minnesota (2.31%), California (2.17%), and New York (2.01%). The lowest rates were in Florida (0.31%), Louisiana (0.32%), Arkansas (0.36%), Alabama (0.38%), and North Carolina (0.40%). Rates in other notable states include Illinois (1.99%), Connecticut (1.82%), Pennsylvania (1.72%), and Texas (1.07%). These state data are not seasonally adjusted.

Data on weekly unemployment claims are from the Department of Labor itself, not the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They begin in 1967 and are contained in Haver’s **WEEKLY** database and summarized monthly in **USECON**. Data for individual states are in **REGIONW** back to December 1986.

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- New claims declined by 9,000 to 202,000.
- Continuing claims rose by 25,000 to 1.841 million.
- The insured unemployment rate remained at 1.2%.