CR Note: Most of this survey is noise, but there is some information, especially on the labor market and the “Single Most Important Problem”. From the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB): October 2018 Report: Small Business Optimism Index The Optimism Index shed a modest 0.5 points, with slight declines in five components, no...
Read more »
From the Chicago Fed: Index Points to Steady Economic Growth in August The Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) was unchanged at +0.18 in August. Three of the four broad categories of indicators that make up the index increased from July, and two of the four categories made positive contributions to the index in...
Read more »
Note: This index is possibly a leading indicator for new non-residential Commercial Real Estate (CRE) investment, except manufacturing. From Dodge Data Analytics: Dodge Momentum Index Inches Up in May The Dodge Momentum Index eked out a small gain in May, moving 1.8% higher to 167.8 (2000=100) from the revised April reading of 164.9. The...
Read more »
Note: This index is possibly a leading indicator for new non-residential Commercial Real Estate (CRE) investment, except manufacturing. From Dodge Data Analytics: Dodge Momentum Index Climbs in March The Dodge Momentum Index moved 6.1% higher in March, rising to 155.0 (2000=100) from the revised February reading of 146.0. The Momentum Index is a monthly...
Read more »
The March ISM Non-manufacturing index was at 58.8%, down from 59.5% in February. The employment index increased in March to 56.6%, from 55.0%. Note: Above 50 indicates expansion, below 50 contraction. From the Institute for Supply Management: March 2018 Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business® conomic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in March for...
Read more »
The ISM manufacturing index indicated expansion in March. The PMI was at 59.3% in March, down from 60.8% in February. The employment index was at 57.3%, down from 59.7% last month, and the new orders index was at 61.9%, down from 64.2%. From the Institute for Supply Management: March 2018 Manufacturing ISM® Report On...
Read more »
Thursday:• At 8:30 AM ET, The initial weekly unemployment claims report will be released. The consensus is for 235 thousand initial claims, up from 233 thousand the previous week. • At 10:00 AM, ISM Manufacturing Index for January. The consensus is for the ISM to decrease to 58.7. The PMI was at 59.7% in...
Read more »
From Matthew Graham at Mortgage News Daily: Mortgage Rates Back in Line With 2017 Lows Mortgage rates moved lower today on a combination of factors. Chief among these were headlines over the weekend concerning more North Korean weapons testing–specifically, a detonation of its largest bomb ever on Sunday followed by reports from South Korea of another...
Read more »
Note: This index is a leading indicator primarily for new Commercial Real Estate (CRE) investment. From the AIA: Architecture Billings Index continues to strengthen The first quarter of the year ended on a positive note for the Architecture Billings Index (ABI). As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate...
Read more »
The Case-Shiller house price indexes for January were released yesterday. Zillow forecasts Case-Shiller a month early, and I like to check the Zillow forecasts since they have been pretty close. From Zillow: February Case-Shiller Forecast: Year-Over-Year Price Gains to Continue Annual gains in the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller home price indices are expected to maintain their...
Read more »