Economy in Brief: May 2013

The Chicago Federal Reserve reported that its April National Activity Index (CFNAI) declined to -0.53 from an unrevised -0.23 in March. The three-month moving average was relatively stable at -0.04, its lowest reading since October. [...]

The National Association for Business Economics raised the median expectation for real GDP growth to 2.9% for next year from the 2.8% estimate in its November survey. That follows a 2.1% growth projection for this year. Quarterly [...]

The Chicago Federal Reserve reported that its April National Activity Index (CFNAI) declined to -0.53 from an unrevised -0.23 in March. The three-month moving average was relatively stable at -0.04, its lowest reading since October. [...]

Automobile registrations are improving their rising trend for the European Union in April despite s small set back in the month. They are off by1.4% after a sharp gain of 7.2% in March. Over three months EU registrations are up at an [...]

The index of Leading Economic Indicators, published by the Conference Board, jumped 0.6% (2.3% y/y) during April to 95.0, a new high for the economic recovery. A 0.2% rise had been expected. The latest increase followed a revised 0.2% [...]

Consumers are feeling much better about economic conditions. The University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment for mid-May jumped 9.6% (5.5% y/y) to 83.7, the highest level since July 2007. It compared to the consensus forecast [...]

The Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank reported that its General Business Conditions Index fell to -5.2. That followed an unrevised 1.3 in April. Haver Analytics constructs a seasonally adjusted figure comparable to the ISM index and [...]

The earlier decline in initial claims for unemployment insurance reversed course last week. They rose to 360,000 (-3.5% y/y) during the week ended May 11 from a revised 328,000 during the prior week, initially reported as 323,000. [...]