Replies to post #39170 on Economic Collapse

[basserdan]

8:30a Initial Jobless Claims
New Claims - Level 204K actual vs 214K prior
4-week Moving Average - Level 216.25K actual vs 224.00K prior
New Claims - Change -10K actual vs -9K prior
Definition
New unemployment claims are compiled weekly to show the number of individuals who filed for unemployment insurance for the first time. An increasing (decreasing) trend suggests a deteriorating (improving) labor market. The four-week moving average of new claims smooths out weekly volatility.


8:30a Philly Fed Business Outlook
General Business Conditions Index - Level 17.0 actual vs 0.3 prior
Definition
The general conditions index from this business outlook survey is a diffusion index of manufacturing conditions within the Philadelphia Federal Reserve district. This survey, widely followed as an indicator of manufacturing sector trends, is correlated with the ISM manufacturing index and the index of industrial production.


8:30a Retail Sales
Retail Sales - M/M change 0.3% actual vs 0.3% (rev) prior
Retail Sales less autos - M/M change 0.7% actual vs 0.0% (rev) prior
Less Autos & Gas - M/M Change 0.5% actual vs -0.2% (rev) prior
Control Group – M/M change 0.4% actual vs -0.2% (rev) prior
Definition
Retail sales measure the total receipts at stores that sell merchandise and related services to final consumers. Sales are by retail and food services stores. Data are collected from the Monthly Retail Trade Survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of the Census. Essentially, retail sales cover the durables and nondurables portions of consumer spending. Consumer spending typically accounts for about two-thirds of GDP and is therefore a key element in economic growth.


8:30a Import/Export Prices
Import Prices - M/M change 0.3% actual vs 0.2% prior
Export Prices - M/M change -0.2% actual vs 0.2% prior
Import Prices - Y/Y change 0.5% actual vs -1.3% prior
Export Prices - Y/Y change -0.7 actual vs -1.3% prior
Definition
Import price indexes are compiled for the prices of goods that are bought in the United States but produced abroad and export price indexes are compiled for the prices of goods sold abroad but produced domestically. These prices, which exclude tariffs and taxes, measure underlying inflationary trends in internationally traded products.

[basserdan]

10:00a Business Inventories
Inventories - M/M change -0.2% actual vs 0.1% (rev) prior
Definition
Business inventories are the dollar amount of inventories held by manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. The level of inventories in relation to sales is an important indicator of the near-term direction of production activity.


10:00a NAHB Housing Market Index 75 actual vs 76 prior
Definition
The National Association of Home Builders produces a housing market index based on a survey in which respondents from this organization are asked to rate the general economy and housing market conditions. The housing market index is a weighted average of separate diffusion indexes: present sales of new homes, sales of new homes expected in the next six months, and traffic of prospective buyers in new homes.


10:30a EIA Natural Gas Inventory
Weekly Change -109bcf actual vs -44bcf prior
Definition
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) provides weekly information on natural gas stocks in underground storage for the U.S. and five regions of the country. The level of inventories helps determine prices for natural gas products.