Unemployment Rate at 3.8% The unemployment rate at 3.8% is a fresh low for the US economy, which added 678,000 jobs in February, continuing at an impressive pace. The labor force participation rate ticked higher, but the jobs market continues to tighten with the unemployment rate falling. Chicago Business Barometer Weakened for the First Time [...]
Demand is Strong According to the Chicago Business Barometer Demand is strong according to the Chicago Business Barometer, which jumped to 73.4 in July, a two-month high and the second highest pandemic era reading. Demand is strong but firms remain concerned about supply chain disruptions and rising prices. Among the five main indicators, Production saw [...]
Welcome to 2020! Chicago Business Barometer Four-Month High In December The Chicago Business Barometer four-month high reached 48.9 after rising 2.6 points in December . Business sentiment dropped to its lowest reading since Q2 2009 and the index was below the 50-mark for the second consecutive quarter. Among the five main categories, Supplier Deliveries and [...]
Chicago Business Barometer Rose 3.1 Points The Chicago Business Barometer rose 3.1 points in November, hitting a 127th consecutive month two-month high 46.3, however, the index remains in contraction for the third straight month. The New Orders and Order Backlogs indices saw the largest monthly improvements in November. Supplier deliveries fell and Production slipped as [...]
US Employers Added 312,000 Jobs in December US employers added 312,000 jobs in December, the fastest pace since February and wages surged, suggesting the economy maintained strong momentum at the end of 2018 even as financial markets sank. WSJ The Chicago Business Barometer eased to 65.4 in December from 66.4 in November. Three of the [...]
Chicago Business Barometer Signaled Expansion 33 Consecutive Months The MNI Chicago Business Barometer surged to an eleven month high in November, up 8 points from October. The months result, sitting above the neutral 50-mark, means the Barometer signaled expansion 33 consecutive months. Driving the November increase were soaring orders and higher output. After easing in [...]
Consumer Confidence Hit Highest Level Since 2000 Consumer Confidence hit highest level since 2000. Only in eleven individual months since 1967 have we seen confidence higher than it is today. Nine of those months were in the year 2000. The other two were in 1999. This is the thin air of high peaks... The euphoria [...]
Personal Income Rose in June to 0.4% Personal income rose in June 0.4 percent and revisions to previously reported data show incomes rising a bit more rapidly, additionally, the saving rate was found to be double previous estimates and inflation came in a touch below forecasts. This data paints a much brighter economic picture. Wages rose [...]
Chicago Business Barometer Highest Level Since January The Chicago Business Barometer at highest level since January, rose to 64.1 in June. New orders were up for the second straight month while prices paid reached their highest level since May 2011. Lead times and backlogs also increased in June. Texas Factory Activity Continued in June The [...]
Texas Manufacturing Production Index Reached 12-Year High The Texas manufacturing production index reached a 12-year high, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey. It reports Texas manufacturing activity rose markedly in May. The production index, a key measure of state manufacturing conditions, increased 10 points to a 12-year high (35.2) [...]
