Total housing starts were reported at a seasonally adjusted (SA), annual rate of 1,155,000 for the month of July, down 4.8% month on month, (m/m). On a three month moving average (3MMA), basis SA total starts came-in at 1,166,000, a negative 1.2% year on year (y/y), growth rate. Single family housing starts jumped by 10.7%, [...]
June, consumer credit increased at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR), of 3.9%. Revolving credit increased at an annual rate of 5.0% percent, while nonrevolving credit increased at an annual rate of 3.6% percent. Total consumer credit increased by $12.40 billion (B), in June a 32.3% month on month, (m/m) decline and less than the [...]
The U.S. labor market continued to perform well in August. Initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits remain at a historically low level. New seasonally adjusted (SA), filings for unemployment insurance benefits fell by 12,000 to 232,000 for the week ending August 12th, while the four week moving average was 240,500. On a non-seasonally (NSA), adjusted basis, [...]
In its July update, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) consensus non-residential forecast is for aggregate spending to increase by 3.8% year on year (y/y), in 2017. Non-residential spending is projected to increase an additional 3.6% in 2018. Twice per year, the American Institute of Architects (AIA), publishes its non-Residential Consensus Forecast. The consensus forecast [...]
The nation's economy is performing well and its prospects through 2018 remain good. On August 4th, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that 209,000 new jobs were created in July. This brings the total number of seasonally adjusted (SA), non-farm people employed in the US in July to 146.615 million (M), +0.14% month on [...]
The Broad (or trade weighted US dollar index), Index fell year on year, (-1.2%) for the first time in three years. The monthly Broad Index recorded a value of 96.77 for July, down in each of the last six months from its high of 102.78 in January. Table 1 lists the values of the US [...]
The U.S. economy is still creating jobs at a healthy rate. During the month of June the U.S. economy created 222,000 and year to date, (YTD), it has created an average of 179,800 jobs per month. The total number of seasonally adjusted (SA), non-farm people employed in the US in June 2017 was 147,388,000. This [...]
The U.S. labor market continues to perform well. Continuous claims for unemployment insurance benefits remain close to historic lows. Seasonally adjusted (SA), claims stood at 1,949,000 on July 1st, down 16,000 week on week. The SA four week moving average (4WMA), was a shade higher at 1,950,250, down 182,250 year on year. The 4WMA was [...]
The total number of operating rigs in the US the week ending July 28th was 958, 766 oil and 192 gas. Month on month oil rigs were up 1.3% and gas rigs were up 4.3%, for an overall increase of 0.8%. On a year on year (y/y) comparison, rigs have more than doubled, up 105% [...]
The three month moving average (3MMA), of the Baltic Dry Index (BDI), for July was 914 down 10.5%, 3MMA month on month (m/m), but up 41.5%, 3MMA year on year, (y/y). The BDI has corrected since peaking above 1,300 points in the spring rally. Despite this correction, shipbrokers remain positive that the market will improve [...]
