Economy in Brief: March 2018

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the total job openings rate jumped to 4.1% in January, matching the record rate reached in the middle of last year. The hiring rate rose to 3.8%. Over the last three years the hiring rate [...]

EMU inflation is even weaker upon its final revision. In February the HICP fell by 0.1% with core inflation up by 0.1% even the three-month pace of inflation is below 1.5% at 1.4% with the core pace even weaker at 1.2%. In February [...]

Total housing starts in February declined 7.0% (-4.0% y/y) to 1.236 million (AR) from 1.329 million in January, revised from 1.326 million. A level of 1.290 million starts had been expected in the Action Economic Forecast Survey. [...]

The Federal Reserve reported that industrial production increased 1.1% (4.4% y/y) during February following a 0.3% January dip, revised from -0.1%. It was the largest increase since October 2017. A 0.3% rise had been expected in the [...]

The Philadelphia Federal Reserve reported that its General Factory Sector Business Conditions Index fell to 22.3 during March and reversed February's rise. Expectations had been for a reading of 23.0 in the Action Economics Forecast [...]

The Composite Housing Market Index from the National Association of Home Builders-Wells Fargo eased to 70 during March from 71 in February, revised from 72. It was the lowest figure since November. The reading compared to expectations [...]

The Empire State Manufacturing Index of General Business Conditions jumped 9.4 points in March to 22.5 from 13.1 in February. This reading was well above the median expectation of 15.0 from the in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. [...]

Import prices rose 0.4% (3.5% y/y) during February following a 0.8% January gain, revised from 1.0%. A 0.3% rise had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. These figures are not seasonally adjusted Petroleum import [...]