According to the U.S. Census Bureau, retail sales increased .4% in January to $401.4 billion. Though below expectations, it was the largest increase in 4 months. The data fell short due mainly to lower sales of automobiles. When factoring out the auto sector, retails sales increased .7%, the highest level in 10 months. This chart [...]
ShareFor the week ending February 4, initial jobless claims fell 15,000 to 358,000. This is near the 4-year low of 355,000 set week ending January 14 2012. The 4-week average, considered a more accurate gauge of labor trends, also fell, dropping 11,000 to 366,250. This is the lowest 4-week average since April 2008. Initial jobless [...]
ShareSince the early part of the recession in 2008, the Velocity of Money (M1) has dropped over 30%. Velocity measures how fast money changes hands within the economy. Having it slow significantly while the Fed boosts the M1 money supply suggests that added liquidity is not spurring economic activity or inflation…at least not yet. Velocity [...]
ShareAccording to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, nonfarm payrolls increased in January by 243,000. This marked the largest gain in nonfarm employment since April 2011. The average 2011 gain per month came in at 152,000. Since a decline in nonfarm payrolls in early 2010, 36% of the jobs lost between January 2008 and February [...]
ShareAccording to the ADP National Employment Report, private-sector employment increased 170,000 from December to January. This marks the 24th consecutive month of increases. The average for the last three months of gains has been 223,000 versus an average of 163,000 per month for all of 2011. The ADP National Employment Report is a measure of [...]
ShareAccording to the Case-Shiller Home Price Index, prices in the 20-City Composite fell in 19 of the 20 cities from October to November. Only Phoenix saw an increase, with prices moving up .6% from October to November. Prices were also down 3.7% from November 2010 to November 2011. The Case-Shiller Price Indices are constructed to [...]
ShareAccording to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, personal income for December increased .5%, up from an increase of .1% in November. Disposable personal income also increased in December, up .4% from November. Personal income is an individual’s total earnings from wages, passive enterprises, and investment interest and dividends. Disposable income is the amount left over [...]
ShareFourth quarter GDP rises 2.8%, the fastest growth since Q2 of 2010. Though a large percentage of the increase is a result of a buildup in inventories, consumer spending also saw an increase from the previous 2011 Q3 reading. From Q3 to Q4, consumer spending increased 2.0%, up from 1.7%. Gross Domestic Product is a [...]
ShareDurable-goods orders rose 3.0% in December, marking the third consecutive month of gains. The increase was fueled in large part by an 18.9% increase in nondefense aircraft and parts, though primary metals, machinery, electronics and communications equipment all saw nice gains. Durable-goods orders measures new orders placed with domestic manufacturers for immediate and future delivery [...]
ShareExisting-home sales for December 2011 increased 5% from November. This is the third consecutive month of increases and the second highest reading of 2011. The December level was also 3.6% above December 2010, and as a whole, existing-home sales were up 1.7% from 2010. Total housing inventory dropped 9.2% for December, representing a 6.2-month supply, [...]
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