Key Economic Indicators – August 13, 2018

    • Sales of merchant wholesalers in June were down 0.1% from the previous month, but were up 10.2% from June of 2017. Sales of durable goods were up 0.2%, while sales of nondurable goods were down 0.3%. Inventories of merchant wholesalers were up 0.1% from the previous month, and were up 5.2% from a year ago.  The June inventories/sales ratio was 1.25, compared with 1.31 a year ago.
    • June consumer credit outstanding increased at an annual rate of 3.1%. Revolving credit decreased 0.2%, while non-revolving credit increased 4.4%.
    • The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed average fixed mortgage rates little changed. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 4.59% for the week ending August 9, down slightly from last week when it averaged 4.60%.
    • Mortgage applications decreased 3.0% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending August 3rd.
    • The producer price index for final demand (headline index) held steady in July, following a 0.3% increase in the previous month.  The index for final demand less foods, energy, and trade increased 0.3%, the same increase as in the previous month. The producer price index for final demand increased 3.3% for the 12 months ended in July. The index for final demand less foods, energy, and trade increased 2.8% during the same period.
    • The consumer price index increased 0.2% in July, after an increase of 0.1% in the previous month. The core index increased 0.2%, the same increase as in the previous month. The consumer price index (headline index) increased 2.9% for the 12-month period ending in July, and the core index rose 2.4%.
    • Real average hourly earnings for all employees were unchanged from June to July. This result stems from a 0.3% increase in average hourly earnings being partially offset by a 0.2% increase in the consumer price index for all urban consumers.
    • The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 6 thousand to 213 thousand in the week ending August 4. The 4-week moving average was 214.25 thousand, a decrease of 0.5 thousand from the previous week’s average. 
    • The number of job openings little changed at 6.7 million on the last business day of June, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over the month, hires and separations were little changed at 5.7 million and 5.5 million, respectively.

Comments are closed.