Key Economic Indicators – June 11, 2012

*          Sales of domestic cars decreased 6.2% in May, while total light vehicle (cars and light trucks) sales decreased 4.5% in May. Sales were 13.726 million units in May, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, compared to 11.687 million in May of 2011.

*          New orders for manufactured goods (excluding semiconductors) decreased 0.6% in April, while shipments of manufactured goods decreased 0.3%.

*          Sales of merchant wholesalers in April were up 1.1%, while inventories were up 0.6%.

*          In April international trade deficit was $50.1 billion, $2.5 billion less than the revised March figure.

*          April consumer credit outstanding increased at an annual rate of 3.1% to $2,550.9 billion.

*          Both 30-year and 15-year fixed mortgage rates were at their new all-time record lows, according to Freddie Mac’s weekly surveys.

*          The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 12 thousand to 377 thousand in the week ending June 2.

*          First quarter productivity decreased 0.9% (seasonally adjusted annual rate) in the non-farm business sector, while unit labor costs increased 1.3%.

*          In May, the Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) non-manufacturing survey results indicated growth in the non-manufacturing business activity for the 29th consecutive month.

*          The FED’s Beige Book indicated that overall economic activity continued to expand at a moderate pace from early April to late May.

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