MNI Chicago Business Barometer Hit Highest Point Since December 2017

The February 2019 MNI Chicago Business Barometer hit highest point since December 2017, rising by 8 points to 64.7.

Optimism returned, with most Barometer components back at December 2018’s level after a dip in January, indicating temporary factors at play in January (i.e… the government shutdown). The pick-up in demand contributed most to the Barometer’s rise.

February 2019 Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey Reports Expansion

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas released its February 2019 Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey and reports factory activity continued to expand in the month. The production index, a key measure of state manufacturing conditions, slipped four points, indicating a slight deceleration in output growth.

Most other measures of manufacturing activity also suggested continued, but slower expansion in February, while perceptions of broader business conditions improved notably in February.

The Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) January Report

Led by declines in production-related indicators, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) fell to -0.43 in January from +0.05 in December. The index’s three -moving average (CFNAI-MA3) decreased to a neutral reading in January from +0.16 in December.”

Because of the partial government shutdown, federal agencies have postponed the release of several data series used to compile the CFNAI. The impact and extent of these delayed data in the January CFNAI and its real time history.

The shutdown that began in December 2018 and ended in January 2019 affected both the December and January CFNAI releases.“

We will have to wait until next month to see how this shakes out.

Fifth District Survey of Manufacturing Activity Reports Manufacturing Activity Strengthened in February

The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond released its Fifth District Survey of Manufacturing Activity and reports manufacturing activity strengthened in February according to this survey. The composite index rose buoyed by increases in the indexes for shipments and new orders.

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index Increased in February

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index increased in February, following a decline in January. The Present Situation Index improved, and the Expectations Index also increased.

Consumer Confidence rebounded in February following three months of consecutive declines.” Aid Lynn Franco, Senior Director of Economic Indicators at The Conference Board.

Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) “First” Q4 GDP Estimate Reports Growth

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released its “first” estimate of fourth quarter GDP and reports the economy grew at an annual rate of 2.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018. There will be revised estimates for the next two months (a total of three). In the third quarter of 2018, GDP grew at an annual rate of 3.4 percent.

The Institute for Supply Management (ISM)February 2019 Report On Business

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in February and the overall economy grew for the 118th consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest ISM Report on Business.

The report was issued by Timothy R. Fiore, CPSM, CPM, Chair of the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Manufacturing Business Survey Committee:

The February PMI registered 54.2 percent, a decrease of 2.4 percentage points from the January reading.”

Comments from the panel reflect continued expanding business strength, supported by notable demand and output although both were softer than the prior month.”

Gingrich360 Newsletter Highlights

I received an email from Gingrich360 last night highlights some important information Americans need to know because the media has their collective heads so far up their collective assholes in their goal to get rid of Donald  Trump, they fail to report on the real problems we face. Here are several of Newt’s notes:

Many things are changing across the globe. Because of the mainstream media’s myopic focus, we simply don’t have a very good understanding of what’s happening abroad.

In fact the world is perhaps more in flux now than any time since the end of WWII.

Consider some uncertainties building around the world.

In Venezuela, the dictator Nicholas Maduro may be able to survive and keep power with the support of Cuba, Russia, Iran and China

In France, the reform efforts of President Emmanuel Macron are floundering. The populist Yellow Vests are constantly protesting, and the economy is failing to grow.

In Italy, the economy has shrunk for the last two quarters (a” technical recession“)

The European Union has refused to negotiate an easy exit for the UK because the Europeanists in Brussels are terrified that a successful and painless British departure from the Common Market might lead a number of other countries to follow.

The result has been an incredibly frustrating, hard road for Prime Minister Theresa May-and there is a very grave danger that the system will melt down. The Irish Republic is adamant that the open border between Northern Ireland and the South will remain open. The Unionists in the North are equally committed to keeping the border with Great Britain open…It is possible that this problem will lead to open hostilities in Northern Ireland for the first time in decades.

In Britain itself, the agonies of the Prime Minister’s Conservative Party are being matched by the increasingly bitter fight over anti-Semitism in the Labour Party.

In Israel, Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu has shocked virtually all his American allies by forming an alliance with a fringe party, which is widely seen as racist and hateful.

In Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s modernizing initiative has been made dramatically harder by his apparent involvement in killing the journalist Jamal Kashoggi.

Pakistani-based terrorists killed at least 40 Indian paramilitary police in Kashmir, and a dozen Indian jets bombed a terrorist training camp in Pakistan. Since both India and Pakistan have nuclear weapons-and both are under popular pressure to be tough on the other-the danger of a nuclear war may be greater on this front than any other.

The Catholic Church continues to wrestle with a deep crisis, and each week sadly brings more painful stories to light.

Russia remains in Crimea and its proxy forces remain in Ukraine.

In Barcelona, Spain this week, Chinese company Huawei will announce a dominant lead in implementing 5G technology worldwide. This is the most important information and communication breakthrough since the invention of the personal computer.”

The world seems to be on fire and our legislators are focused on debunked dossiers, 2 years of investigation have brought ZERO evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia (my note: we do have the facts showing the Hillary Clinton campaign WAS involved in collusion with Russians along with all her other crimes)

Despite what some say, racism does exist in the USA, but it is fostered and encouraged by the Democratic party.
Our southern border is a sieve and thousands of people are entering illegally every day. ILLEGALLY

The New Green Deal, if conservatives do not protect capitalism, will become law in part or in total if the liberals seize control of the White House or the Senate.
The First Amendment is under fire.
The Second Amendment is under fire.
And these are only a few of the problems the nation and the world face.

Infrastructure X (Keystone & Dakota pipelines) Regulation Reform XX 1 in 2 out
Individual Tax Reform XX Entitlement Reform
Business Tax Reform XX Education Reform X
Healthcare Reform Veterans Administration Reform X
Rebuild our Military X Trade Reform X
Secure our Borders (The Wall) XX Lead the world from the front XX
Help for the poor XX Drain the swamp X as we speak
Peace through unmatchable strength Support Israel X
Destroy ISIS XX Extreme Vetting XX
Conservative Supreme Court nominees XX American Jobs XX

I will track these campaign promises and will check them off as each is accomplished adding those I have missed as they become apparent. This is quite an agenda and will be difficult to achieve all in one term, but I believe the American people are behind him and know these things need to be done. Now, if he can get our legislators to support him instead of fighting him….

“MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN”

Have a great weekend…. God bless America!

Buy American made products whenever you can, it’s good for you, good for your friends and neighbors and good for our country.

If you are hiring…try to hire a veteran…. they are loyal, disciplined, hardworking…and they deserve our support.

By the way, if you wish to comment on my rants or offer any other insights you may have, you are encouraged to email me.

TEDDY ROOSEVELT ON IMMIGRANTS IN AMERICA…1907

In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American and nothing but an American. There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag…We have room for but one language here and that is the English language…and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”