Here are today’s statistics on the state of the economy:

Consumer prices were unchanged in January, but the core CPI (ex-food and energy) rose 0.3%. On a year-over-year basis the CPI is up 1.6%, and the core CPI is up 1.9%.

The Conference Board’s index of leading economic indicators rose 0.2% in January, though the consumer expectations component is still depressed.

The Philadelphia Fed survey fell from -5.8 to a worse than expected -12.5 for February, as mid-Atlantic regional business conditions worsened.

Initial jobless claims surged by 20,000 to 362,000 last week. The 4-week average rose 8,000 to 360.750, and continuing claims rose 11,000 to 3.148 million.

The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index rose to -33.4, the highest level of the year so far.

Existing home sales rose slightly, up 0.4% to an annual rate of 4.92 million. Sales are up 9.1% on a year-ago basis.

The PMI Manufacturing Index Flash fell -0.3 points to 55.2, though this is still firmly in positive territory.

~
Dale Franks
Google+ Profile
Twitter Feed