Economy in Brief: November 2016

The Conference Board's Composite Index of Leading Economic Indicators improved 0.1% during October (1.1% y/y) following an unrevised 0.2% September increase. The gain matched expectations in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. The [...]

The Philadelphia Federal Reserve reported that its General Factory Sector Business Conditions Index remained positive in November. At 7.6, it was fourth consecutive reading above zero, and followed an unrevised 9.7 in October. It was [...]

Labor market improvement is nowhere more evident than in fewer claims for jobless insurance. Initial claims for unemployment insurance declined to 235,000 (-14.5% y/y) during the week ended November 12 following an unrevised fall to [...]

The consumer price index increased 0.4% (1.6% y/y) during October following an unrevised 0.3% rise. It was the strongest increase in six months, and matched expectations in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Prices excluding food & [...]

Housing starts increased 25.5% (23.3% y/y) during October to 1.323 million (AR) following a September decline to 1.054 million, revised from 1.047 million. It was the highest level of starts since August 2007. Expectations were for [...]

Industrial output was steady during October (-0.9% y/y) following a 0.2% September decline, revised from a 0.1% increase. An August decline of 0.1% was revised from -0.5%. The unchanged October reading disappointed expectations for a [...]

The Composite Housing Market Index from the National Association of Home Builders-Wells Fargo held at 63 (1.6% y/y) during November following an unrevised decline from 65 in September. The NAHB figures are seasonally adjusted. During [...]

The headline Final Demand Producer Price Index held steady (0.8% y/y) during October following an unrevised 0.3% September gain. A 0.3% rise had been expected for last month in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Excluding food & [...]