Monthly Archives: April 2012

Low Growth Economy Still Vulnerable to “Transient Factors” and Some Not So Transient Existing Home Sales for March decreased by 2.6 percent, to a 4.48 million unit sales rate. The Conference Board’s Leading Economic index increased by 0.3 percent in … Continue reading →

Housing Takes Two Steps Forward and One Step Back, Production Just Goes Sideways Housing Starts for March decreased by 5.8 percent to a 654,000 unit annual rate. Permits for new residential construction increased by 4.5 percent to a 747,000 unit … Continue reading →

Shoppers Forge Ahead, Warmed by Early Spring Retail Sales for March increased by 0.8 percent. Ex-auto Retail Sales also increased by 0.8 percent. Retail Sales of motor vehicles and parts gained 0.9 percent, even as reported unit sales decreased. Business … Continue reading →

 Energy, Inflation and the Economy, The Times They Are A Changing The March Consumer Price Index increased by 0.3 percent, less than February’s 0.4 percent gain. The core CPI increased by 0.2 percent, and is up 2.3 percent over the … Continue reading →

                                    Mixed Bag of Data Tilts in the Direction of More QE The U.S. International Trade gap narrowed in February to -$46.0 billion as imports declined. The Producer Price Index for March was unchanged. The core PPI gained 0.3 percent. … Continue reading →