Tag: economics indicator

Five things to watch for in March’s durable goods report

The US Commerce Department will publish its March durable goods advanced report Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. EST. Economists are spread wide on what they expect to see since February’s report was the first significant decline in more than a year. Here’s what to watch for: Slow growth and possible recession […]

Five Things to Watch For in February’s Retail Sales Report

The U.S. Census Bureau releases its February advance retail sales report on Monday. Major economists predict on average a gain of about 0.2% from January’s numbers. January’s report showed that the U.S. economy was still growing slowly compared to a year earlier. But if February’s data fails to meet expectations, […]

Real Disposable Income Rises Sharply, Driven by One-Time Bonuses

Personal income increased in January, as employer optimism surrounding the recent tax bill made its way to consumers’ wallets. The 0.4% increase in January released Thursday by the Bureau of Economic Analysis exceeded analyst expectations. Disposable personal income, or the money households make after taxes, showed a more dramatic rise […]

March Housing Starts Will Rise With the Mercury

It’ll be a spring thaw: Housing starts likely jumped as soon as the weather warmed up in March, even as concerns remain about the cost of land and labor. Starts will rise to a seasonally adjusted annualized pace of 970,000 when the Census releases its home-construction report tomorrow morning, according […]

February exports, cold weather drag US trade

The United States saw its trade deficit widen for the second month as the cold weather and weak global economy continued to hamper movement of goods. But with the cold weather waning, next month’s figures are expected to perform better. The trade deficit increased to $42.3 billion in February up […]

Februarys weather kept U.S. housing starts low, at a seasonally adjusted, annualized rate of 907,000, down 2,000 from January. Heavy permit applications, however, suggested the numbers would increase again once the weather warmed.

February Cold Keep Housing Starts Flat

Weather held U.S. housing starts flat in February, even as the sector showed signs it would grow in spring. Starts dropped to a seasonally adjusted, annualized pace of 907,000 in February, a mere 0.2 percent below January’s revised estimate of 909,000, according to data released jointly on March 18 by […]

January trade deficit widens slightly

The United States’ trade deficit slightly rose in January prompting speculation the rest of the year will not fare better. The trade deficit increased slightly to $39.1 billion in January from December’s revised number of $39 billion, the Commerce Department said Friday, despite an increase in exports. Compared to January […]