Crude Oil Inventories Report for Week of October 26, 2007

The U.S. Crude Oil Inventories report for the week that ended on October 26, 2007 was released this morning:

Weekly Change: -3,900,000 Barrels

Yearly Change: -21,600,000 Barrels

Current U.S. Crude Oil Stocks: 312,700,000 Barrels

Diminishing crude oil inventories can translate to higher crude oil prices (and vice versa), but not always.

The report is produced by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Click here for a more detailed summary of The Week in Petroleum.

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Construction Spending during September, 2007

Earlier today, the U.S. Census Bureau -- which is part of the U.S. Commerce Department -- released the Construction Spending report for September, 2007:

Predicted: -0.5%
Actual: +0.3%

The above percentages represent the month-to-month change in new public and private construction activity for the United States. The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

Change from one year ago: -0.8%

Click here to view the full Census Bureau report.

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Gross Domestic Product (GDP) "Advance" Released Today for Q3, 2007

U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) numbers for the third quarter of 2007 were released this morning by the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis:

Predicted: +3.2%
Actual: +3.9%

The above percentages represent the quarter-to-quarter change in the Gross Domestic Product for the United States. The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

The GDP is a very broad measure of economic activity for the entire United States, covering all sectors of the economy.

The "advance" estimates are based on data that are incomplete or subject to future revision. Next month, the Commerce Department will release a "preliminary" report for the above-referenced quarter, which will contain more accurate data. A "final" GDP report will be released later this year, which will contain the most accurate and authoritative data on the above-referenced quarter.

Click here to view the full Commerce Department report (PDF).

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Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) for October, 2007

The Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) for this month (October, 2007) was released by The Conference Board this morning:

Predicted: 99.0
Actual: 95.6
The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

Every month, The Conference Board sends a questionnaire to 5,000 U.S. households. Survey participants are polled about their feeling regarding the current U.S. economy, the future of the U.S. economy, and about their own fiscal circumstances. On average, 3,500 participants complete and return the 5-question survey.

The baseline "100" score for the CCI is linked to 1985 survey data.

When consumers feel good about the economy, they tend to do more spending, and vice versa.

Based in New York City, The Conference Board is a private, not-for-profit organization with a mission to, "create and disseminate knowledge about management and the marketplace to help businesses strengthen their performance and better serve society."

The CCI is almost always released on the last Tuesday of the month.

Last month, the CCI was 99.8.

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Redbook Numbers for The Week of October 27, 2007

The Redbook numbers for the week that ended on October 27, 2007 were released this morning:

Redbook Sales Figures: +1.9%

The Redbook measures the weekly sales at chain stores, discount stores, and department stores -- about 9,000 stores in total -- and is therefore an important measure of current consumer spending in the U.S. The above figure represents the year-to-year change in the Redbook sales figures, so sales are up by 1.9% when compared to sales during the corresponding week back in October of 2006.

The weekly Johnson Redbook Index report is produced by Redbook Research.

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All 3 Majors Advanced On The Week

All 3 major indices advanced on the day and the week as investors traded with the knowledge that the Fed will likely cut short-term interest rates next week. The dollar continued to decline against the euro and other major currencies, while crude oil and gold continued upward.

1,405,828,680 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange® today.

For the week, the DJIA added 284.68 points (+2.105%), the NASDAQ Composite Index added 79.03 points (+2.9%), and the S and P 500 Index gained 34.65 points (+2.309%).

Summary of The U.S. Markets for Today:

----------------------------------------------------------

DJIA: Closed @ 13,806.70 (+134.78)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,804.19 (+53.33)

S and P 500: Closed @ 1,535.28 (+20.88)

----------------------------------------------------------

WTI Crude Oil Future closed @ $91.86/barrel

NY Spot Gold closed @ $783.50/ounce

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.6948 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.4394 U.S. Dollars

The Federal Funds Target Rate is 4.75%

Ten-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.389%

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Consumer Sentiment for October, 2007

Consumer Sentiment for October, 2007:

Predicted: 82.0
Actual: 80.9

The Consumer Sentiment Index is compiled on a monthly basis by the University of Michigan; 500 U.S. households are queried about their own financial circumstances and about the economy in general. 200 questions are asked, e.g. "Do you think that right now is a good time to purchase a major household item, like a new microwave oven, TV set, or a new sofa?"

The Consumer Sentiment Index uses a 1966 baseline, i.e. for 1966, the Consumer Sentiment Index = 100. So any number that is below the 1966 baseline of 100 means that the folks who were polled recently aren't as optimistic about the U.S. economy as the sample that was polled back in 1966.

The Consumer Sentiment Index is similar to the Consumer Confidence Index in that they both measure consumer attitudes and offer insight into consumer spending.

The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

Last month, the Consumer Sentiment Index was 83.4.

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New Home Sales for September, 2007

The September, 2007 New Home Sales report was released this morning:

Predicted: 770,000

Actual New Home Sales: 770,000

------------------------------------------------------

Change from Last Month: +4.8%

Change from Last Year: -23.3%

------------------------------------------------------

Median Price for a New Home during September: $238,000

Average Price for a New Home during September: $288,000


Compiled jointly by the U.S. Commerce Department and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the monthly New Home Sales report measures the number of newly-built homes with committed buyers for a given month.

The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

The New Home Sales report is watched by economists and investors because it offers insight into the state of the U.S. housing market, and also provides data that can be used to predict sales of large household furniture and appliances like refrigerators, air conditioners and microwave ovens.

Click here to view the full Commerce Department report (PDF).

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New Unemployment Insurance Claims for The Week of October 20, 2007

Earlier today, the Labor Department released the New Unemployment Insurance Claims report for the week that ended on October 20, 2007:

Predicted: 320,000
Actual: 331,000

The above figures represent the number of first-time claims for unemployment benefits for the entire United States. The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

Click here to view the full Labor Department report.

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Durable Goods Orders Report for September, 2007 Released Today

The Durable Goods Orders report for September, 2007 was released this morning:

Predicted: +1.8%
Actual: -1.7%

The above percentages represent the month-to-month change in orders for durable or hard goods for immediate or future delivery from U.S. manufacturers. Examples of durable goods: cars, airplanes, computers -- items that are built to last 3+ years.

The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure. The Durable Goods Orders report is produced by the Commerce Department.

Click here to view the full Commerce Department report (PDF).

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Crude Oil Inventories Report for Week of October 19, 2007

The U.S. Crude Oil Inventories report for the week that ended on October 19, 2007 was released this morning:

Weekly Change: -5,300,000 Barrels

Yearly Change: -15,700,000 Barrels

Current U.S. Crude Oil Stocks: 316,600,000 Barrels

Diminishing crude oil inventories can translate to higher crude oil prices (and vice versa), but not always.

The report is produced by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Click here for a more detailed summary of The Week in Petroleum.

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Existing Home Sales for September, 2007

The Existing Home Sales report for September, 2007 was released by The National Association of Realtors® this morning:

Predicted: 5,300,000
Actual: 5,040,000
Change from Last Month: -8.0%
Change from Last Year: -19.1%

The "actual" figure above represents the preliminary, seasonally adjusted annual sales count of existing homes, co-ops and condominiums for last month. The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

Median Price for A Preowned, Single-Family
Home In September, 2007: $211,700
Change from Last Year: -4.2%

Average Price for A Preowned, Single-Family
Home In September, 2007: $257,800
Change from Last Year: -3.2%

The monthly Existing Home Sales report is released on or around the 25^TH day of each month.

Click here to view the full NAR report.

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Redbook Numbers for The Week of October 20, 2007

The Redbook numbers for the week that ended on October 20, 2007 were released this morning:

Redbook Sales Figures: +2.3%

The Redbook measures the weekly sales at chain stores, discount stores, and department stores -- about 9,000 stores in total -- and is therefore an important measure of current consumer spending in the U.S. The above figure represents the year-to-year change in the Redbook sales figures, so sales are up by 2.3% when compared to sales during the corresponding week back in October of 2006.

The weekly Johnson Redbook Index report is produced by Redbook Research.

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All 3 Majors Declined Sharply On The Week

Today, on the twentieth anniversary of the 1987 stock market crash, all 3 major indexes declined sharply. Investors moved money to the safety of government bonds in response to lackluster earnings reports and concerns that global credit markets haven't fully recovered from the summer's credit crunch. The dollar continued to decline against the euro and other major currencies, while crude oil and gold continued upward.

1,795,585,720 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange® today.

For the week, the DJIA lost 571.06 points (-4.05%), the NASDAQ Composite Index lost 80.52 points (-2.87%), and the S and P 500 Index lost 61.17 points (-3.92%).

Summary of The U.S. Markets for Today:

----------------------------------------------------------

DJIA: Closed @ 13,522.02 (-366.94)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,725.16 (-74.15)

S and P 500: Closed @ 1,500.63 (-39.45)

----------------------------------------------------------

NYMEX Crude Oil Future closed @ $88.60/barrel

NY Spot Gold closed @ $763.60/ounce

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.6992 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.4302 U.S. Dollars

The Federal Funds Target Rate is 4.75%

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.401%

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Leading Economic Indicators for September, 2007

The Conference Board report on the nation's Leading Economic Indicators for September, 2007 was released this morning:

Predicted: +0.3%

Actual: +0.3%

The above numbers represent the month-to-month change for the nation's leading economic indicators. The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

The Leading Economic Indicators Index is a composite of 10 of the nation's economic data releases that's put together by The Conference Board. Statistically, the components listed below have shown a significant increase or decrease before national economic upturns or downturns, respectively:

1. The Money Supply (M2)
   
   
2. The Standard and Poor's 500 Index
   
   
3. The interest rate spread between the yield on the 10-year Treasury Note and the Fed Funds
   
   
4. Manufacturer's new orders for consumer goods or materials
   
   
5. Manufacturer's new orders for non-defense capital goods
   
   
6. Average weekly claims for unemployment insurance
   
   
7. Average weekly manufacturing hours
   
   
8. The Index of Consumer Expectations
   
   
9. Vendor performance
   
   
10. Building permits for new private housing

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New Unemployment Insurance Claims for The Week of October 13, 2007

Earlier today, the Labor Department released the New Unemployment Insurance Claims report for the week that ended on October 13, 2007:

Predicted: 312,000
Actual: 337,000

The above figures represent the number of first-time claims for unemployment benefits for the entire United States. The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

Click here to view the full Labor Department report.

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Crude Oil Inventories Report for Week of October 12, 2007

The U.S. Crude Oil Inventories report for the week that ended on October 12, 2007 was released this morning:

Weekly Change: +1,700,000 Barrels

Yearly Change: -13,700,000 Barrels

Current U.S. Crude Oil Stocks: 321,900,000 Barrels

Diminishing crude oil inventories can translate to higher crude oil prices (and vice versa), but not always.

The report is produced by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Click here for a more detailed summary of The Week in Petroleum.

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Housing Starts During September, 2007

The U.S. Commerce Department this morning released the Housing Starts report for September, 2007:

Housing Starts:
Predicted: 1,300,000
Actual: 1,191,000
From Last Month: -10.2%
From One Year Ago: -30.8%

Building Permits:
Actual: 1,226,000
From Last Month: -7.3%
From One Year Ago: -25.9%


The above is a measure of initial construction of single and multi-family residential units in The United States for last month. The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

If you're wondering about the demand for new homes in the United States, or about the American construction industry in general, then you should pay attention to the monthly Housing Starts report. The monthly Housing Starts report also offers insight into specific types of consumer spending: when housing starts are up, demand for the stuff that a consumer would purchase for a new home (large appliances, consumer electronics, furniture, etc.) tends to also rise--and vice versa.

Click here to view the full Commerce Department report (PDF).

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Consumer Price Index (CPI) for September, 2007

Earlier this morning, the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for September, 2007:

Predicted: +0.2%
Actual: +0.3%

Below is the CPI when food and energy are subtracted from the equation, also known as the "core CPI":

Predicted: +0.2%
Actual: +0.2%

The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

The above numbers represent the seasonally-adjusted, month-to-month change in prices for a specific group of goods and services that consumers buy, and is, therefore, a very important part of the overall inflation picture for the country.

--------------------------------------------------------

The CPI figure for September, 2007: 208.49 (not seasonally-adjusted.)

Change from a year ago: +2.8%

The baseline 100 score is pegged to 1982-1984 data. In other words, consumer prices have more than doubled since the early 80's.

--------------------------------------------------------

General categories that constitute the CPI are:

• Healthcare
• Housing
• Clothing
• Communications
• Education
• Transportation
• Food & Beverages
• Recreation
• Miscellaneous Goods & Services (grooming expenses, etc.)

Click here to view the full Labor Department report.

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Industrial Production for September, 2007

The Industrial Production numbers for September, 2007 were released by the Federal Reserve this morning:

Industrial Production:
Predicted: +0.1%
Actual: +0.1%

Capacity Utilization Rate:
Predicted: 82.1%
Actual: 82.1%

The above Industrial Production numbers represent the month-to-month change in physical output from mining operations, utility plants and factories for the entire United States.

The Capacity Utilization Rate percentages represent the use of available resources at mining operations, utility plants and factories for the entire United States last month.

The "predicted" figures are what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

Click here to view the full Federal Reserve report.

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Redbook Numbers for The Week of October 13, 2007

The Redbook numbers for the week that ended on October 13, 2007 were released this morning:

Redbook Sales Figures: +2.6%

The Redbook measures the weekly sales at chain stores, discount stores, and department stores -- about 9,000 stores in total -- and is therefore an important measure of current consumer spending in the U.S. The above figure represents the year-to-year change in the Redbook sales figures, so sales are up by 2.6% when compared to sales during the corresponding week back in October of 2006.

The weekly Johnson Redbook Index report is produced by Redbook Research.

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All 3 Majors Advanced On The Week

All 3 major indexes advanced on the week, helped in part by an encouraging report on retail sales. The price on a barrel of crude oil for future delivery closed at $83.69 while the dollar got weaker against the euro.

1,099,772,770 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange® today.

For the week, the DJIA gained 27.07 points (+0.192%), the NASDAQ Composite Index added 25.36 points (+0.912%), and the S and P 500 Index gained 4.21 points (+0.27%).

Summary of The U.S. Markets for Today:

----------------------------------------------------------

DJIA: Closed @ 14,093.08 (+77.96)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,805.68 (+33.48)

S and P 500: Closed @ 1,561.80 (+7.39)

----------------------------------------------------------

NYMEX Crude Oil Future closed @ $83.69/barrel

NY Spot Gold closed @ $748.10/ounce

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.7053 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.4178 U.S. Dollars

The Federal Funds Target Rate is 4.75%

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.687%

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Producer Price Index (PPI) for September, 2007

The Producer Price Index (PPI) for September, 2007 was released this morning:

Predicted: +0.4%
Actual: +1.1%

Below is the PPI when food and energy are subtracted from the equation, also known as the "core PPI":

Predicted: +0.2%
Actual: +0.1%

The above numbers represent the month-to-month change in prices for a specific group of goods and capital equipment that producers buy in order to produce finished goods for consumers. The PPI is an important part of the overall inflation picture for the country because when costs go up for producers, producers will often pass those increased costs on to consumers.

The PPI is released by the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

The PPI is a family or amalgamation of indexes, including The:

• All Commodities Index
• Crude Energy Materials Index
• Crude Foodstuffs & Feedstuffs Index
• Crude Materials for Further Processing Index
• Finished Goods Index
  
• Finished Consumer Foods Index
• Finished Consumer Goods Index
• Finished Consumer Goods Excluding Foods Index
• Finished Energy Goods Index
• Finished Goods: Capital Equipment Index
• Finished Goods Excluding Foods Index
• Finished Goods Less Energy Index
• Finished Goods Less Food & Energy Index
• Fuels & Related Products & Power Index
• Industrial Commodities Index
• Intermediate Energy Goods Index
• Intermediate Foods & Feeds Index
  
• Intermediate Materials: Supplies & Components Index
  

Click here to view the full Labor Department report.

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U.S. Retail & Food Services Sales Report for September, 2007

The Commerce Department this morning released advanced estimates of U.S. Retail and Food Services Sales for September, 2007:

Predicted: +0.3%
Actual: +0.6%

Minus Auto Sales
Predicted: +0.3%
Actual : +0.4%


The above percentages represent the month-to-month change in total sales receipts for retailers that sell durable & non-durable goods, and retailers that provide food & beverage services.

Change since last year: +5.0%.

The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

Click here to view the full report.

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Crude Oil Inventories Report for Week of October 5, 2007

The U.S. Crude Oil Inventories report for the week that ended on October 5, 2007 was released this morning:

Weekly Change: -1,700,000 Barrels

Yearly Change: -10,400,000 Barrels

Current U.S. Crude Oil Stocks: 320,100,000 Barrels

Diminishing crude oil inventories can translate to higher crude oil prices (and vice versa), but not always.

The report is produced by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Click here for a more detailed summary of The Week in Petroleum.

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U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes for September, 2007

The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics this morning released the price indexes for U.S. imports and exports for September, 2007 :

Import Prices
Predicted: +0.8
Actual: +1.0%

Export Prices
Actual: +0.3%

The above percentages represent the month-to-month change in prices for

• Imports: the cost of goods produced in other countries and sold in the U.S.
  
  
• Exports: the cost of goods produced in the U.S. and sold in other countries.
  

Together, these indexes offer insight into the status of inflation in the United States, and for the global economy as well. The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

Click here to view the full Labor Department report.

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Treasury Budget for September, 2007

The U.S. Treasury Budget monthly account for September, 2007 was released today:

Actual: +$111,600,000,000

The "actual" figure above represents the monthly balance on the U.S. federal government's "books" and is compiled by The Treasury Department. A positive number represents a surplus, while a negative represents a deficit.

The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

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New Unemployment Insurance Claims for The Week of October 6, 2007

Earlier today, the Labor Department released the New Unemployment Insurance Claims report for the week that ended on October 6, 2007:

Predicted: 315,000
Actual: 308,000

The above figures represent the number of first-time claims for unemployment benefits for the entire United States. The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

Click here to view the full Labor Department report.

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International Trade Balance Level for August, 2007

The International Trade Balance Level for August, 2007 was released by The U.S. Commerce Department this morning:

Predicted: $ -59,800,000,000
Actual: $ -57,600,000,000

The "actual" figure above represents the balance of trade -- imports vs. exports -- between the United States and all other countries, and includes both goods and services. A negative number represents a trade deficit, while a positive number represents a trade surplus.

The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

Click here to view the full Commerce Department report (PDF).

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Redbook Numbers for The Week of October 6, 2007

The Redbook numbers for the week that ended on October 6, 2007 were released this morning:

Redbook Sales Figures: +1.8%

The Redbook measures the weekly sales at chain stores, discount stores, and department stores -- about 9,000 stores in total -- and is therefore an important measure of current consumer spending in the U.S. The above figure represents the year-to-year change in the Redbook sales figures, so sales are up by 1.8% when compared to sales during the corresponding week back in October of 2006.

The weekly Johnson Redbook Index report is produced by Redbook Research.

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All 3 Majors Advanced On A Positive Jobs Report

All 3 major indexes advanced on the week: investors reacted bullishly to this morning's jobs report, as the encouraging numbers could mean that the U.S. economy isn't headed for a recession. The price on a barrel of crude oil for future delivery eased, but remained above the $81 mark.

1,258,787,720 shares were traded @ The New York Stock Exchange® today.

For the week, the DJIA gained 170.38 points (+1.226%), the NASDAQ Composite Index added 78.82 points (+2.918%), and the S and P 500 Index gained 30.84 points (+2.02%).

Summary of The U.S. Markets for Today:

----------------------------------------------------------

DJIA: Closed @ 14,066.01 (+91.70)

NASDAQ: Closed @ 2,780.32 (+46.75)

S and P 500: Closed @ 1,557.59 (+14.75)

----------------------------------------------------------

NYMEX Crude Oil Future closed @ $81.22/barrel

NY Spot Gold closed @ $741.30/ounce

In New York, The U.S. Dollar buys 0.7075 Euros

In New York, The Euro buys 1.4134 U.S. Dollars

The Federal Funds Target Rate is 4.75%

10-Year Treasury Note Yield is currently @ 4.64%

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Consumer Credit Status Report for August, 2007 Released Today

The Consumer Credit status report for August, 2007 was released by the Fed earlier this afternoon:

Actual: +$12,200,000,000 (+5.9%)

The above figures represent the seasonally adjusted, month-to-month change in total outstanding, installment-based consumer credit; includes car loans and credit cards, but does not include real estate-secured loans, like mortgages.

Total Outstanding Consumer Debt in August: $2,471,800,000,000

Click here to view the full Federal Reserve report.

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Employment Situation Report for September, 2007

The Employment Situation report for September, 2007 was released by The Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics this morning:

Average Hourly Earnings (month-to-month change)
Predicted: +0.3%
Actual: +0.4%


Non-farm Payrolls (month-to-month change)
Predicted: +115K
Actual: +110K


Average Workweek
Predicted: 33.8 hrs
Actual: 33.8 hrs


Unemployment Rate
Predicted: 4.7%
Actual: 4.7%

Economist, academics, central bankers and investors pay very close attention to the monthly Employment Situation report as it offers penetrating insight as to the current and near-future state of the overall U.S. economy. If a) Americans are earning more money, b) unemployment is low and c) the economy is creating new jobs, this typically translates to more money being pumped into the economy (and vice versa.)

The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

Click here to view the full Department of Labor report.

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U.S. Factory Orders Report for August, 2007

The U.S. Census Bureau this morning released their report on manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories & Orders -- also known as Factory Orders -- for August, 2007:

Predicted: -2.8%
Actual: -3.3%

The above percentages represent the month-to-month change in orders for both durable and nondurable goods made by from U.S. manufacturers. The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

Click here to view the full Census Bureau report.

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New Unemployment Insurance Claims for The Week of September 29, 2007

Earlier today, the Labor Department released the New Unemployment Insurance Claims report for the week that ended on September 29, 2007:

Predicted: 310,000
Actual: 317,000

The above figures represent the number of first-time claims for unemployment benefits for the entire United States. The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

Click here to view the full Labor Department report.

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Crude Oil Inventories Report for Week of September 28, 2007

The U.S. Crude Oil Inventories report for the week that ended on September 28, 2007 was released this morning:

Weekly Change: +1,200,000 Barrels

Yearly Change: -6,300,000 Barrels

Current U.S. Crude Oil Stocks: 321,800,000 Barrels

Diminishing crude oil inventories can translate to higher crude oil prices (and vice versa), but not always.

The report is produced by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Click here for a more detailed summary of The Week in Petroleum.

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Challenger Report on Corporate Layoffs for September, 2007

Earlier today, the outplacement company Challenger released their report on corporate layoffs for September, 2007:

U.S. Job Cuts Announced during September, 2007: 71,739

When the corporate layoff numbers are high, consumer spending may decline, since there are less people with steady jobs.

When corporate layoffs are low, this can mean that the job market is relatively tight, which can be a harbinger of wage inflation.

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U.S. Motor Vehicle Sales Report for September, 2007

The Domestic Motor Vehicle Sales report for September, 2007 was released this afternoon:

Predicted: 12,400,000
Actual: 12,400,000

The above figures represent unit sales of American-made cars, minivans, SUV's and light trucks. The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

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Redbook Numbers for The Week of September 29, 2007

The Redbook numbers for the week that ended on September 29, 2007 were released this morning:

Redbook Sales Figures: +1.5%

The Redbook measures the weekly sales at chain stores, discount stores, and department stores -- about 9,000 stores in total -- and is therefore an important measure of current consumer spending in the U.S. The above figure represents the year-to-year change in the Redbook sales figures, so sales are up by 1.5% when compared to sales during the corresponding week back in September of 2006.

The weekly Johnson Redbook Index report is produced by Redbook Research.

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ISM Manufacturing Index for September, 2007

Earlier today, the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) released their Purchasing Manager's Index (PMI) for September, 2007:

Predicted: 52.9%
Actual: 52.0%

Every month, the ISM surveys purchasing and supply executives at hundreds of companies across the country that are involved in manufacturing in some form. The resulting index is watched closely by academics, economists and investors because manufacturing accounts for 12% of U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The PMI is a reliable barometer of U.S. manufacturing: when the PMI is above 50%, U.S. manufacturing is expanding; when it's below 50%, the manufacturing sector is contracting.

The "predicted" figure is what economists and Wall Street forecasters were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

Last month, the PMI was 52.9.

Click here to view the complete ISM report.

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