Today’s economic statistical releases:

The Consumer Price Index was unchanged in December. The Core CPI, which excludes food and energy prices, rose only 0.1%.

Housing starts slipped to a 650,000 annualized rate in December. Housing permits, though, rose to a 6798,000 rate, which is encouraging.

Initial jobless claims dropped by 50,000 to an unexpectedly low 352,000, the largest weekly drop since September 2005. The 4-week moving average dropped from 381,750 to 379,000. Continuing claims also greatly improved, falling 215,000 to 3.432 million.

The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index fell to -47.4 from the last reading’s -44.7.

The Philadelphia Fed’s survey shows a drop in general business conditions to 7.3 from last month’s 10.3.

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Dale Franks
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