Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) Reports Improvements in Production-related Indicators We begin the week with the release of the Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) which reports that improvements in production-related indicators the CFNAI rose to +0.49 in April from +0.07 in March. Two of the four broad categories of indicators that make up [...]
Led by declines in production and employment related indicators, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) decreased to -0.23 in March from +0.76 in February. Three of the four broad categories of indicators that make up the index decreased from February. The index’s 3 month moving average, CFNAI-MA3 decreased to -0.01 in March from +0.12 [...]
It is becoming increasingly clear that Congress will not act to stop the sequester spending cuts from taking place. The cuts will take place between March 1 and September 30, the last day of the government’s fiscal year. Split evenly between defense spending and spending for other discretionary programs: $85 billion dollars. I do not [...]