Key Economic Indicators – March 31, 2014

  • Real GDP increased at an annual rate of 2.6% in the fourth quarter of 2013, after increasing 4.1% in the previous quarter. Real GDP increased 1.9% in the year 2013, compared with an increase of 2.8% in 2012.
  • The price index for gross domestic purchases increased 1.5% in the fourth quarter, compared to an increase of 1.8% in the previous quarter. The price index increased 1.2% in the year 2013, compared to an increase of 1.7% in 2012.
  • Profits from current production increased $74.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2013, compared with an increase of $39.2 billion in the third quarter. Profits from current production increased $92.6 billion in the year 2013, compared with an increase of $131.8 billion in 2012.
  • Both personal income and personal consumption expenditures increased 0.3%, in February.
  • The price index for personal consumption expenditures increased 0.1% in February. The price index (headline index) was up 0.9% from February 2013, while the core index was up 1.1%
  • New orders for manufactured durable goods increased 2.2% in February.
  • February new home sales decreased to an annualized rate of 440 thousand units. The median sales price of new houses sold was $261.8 thousand, 1.2% below February 2013.
  • The Pending Home Sales Index, a leading indicator for the housing sector, decreased 0.8% in February to 93.9, according to the National Association of Realtors.
  • The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of March 27th showed average fixed mortgage rates up a bit from last week.
  • Mortgage applications decreased 3.5% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending March 26th.
  • The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased 19 thousand to 348 thousand in the week ending January 25.
  • The Employment Cost Index for total compensation rose 0.5%, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month period ending December 2013.
  • Regional and state unemployment rates were generally lower in December.
  • The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index rose to 82.3 in March.
  • The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment edged up to 80.0 March.

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