New Unemployment Insurance Claims for The Week of August 16, 2014

Earlier today, the Labor Department released the New Unemployment Insurance Claims report for the week that ended on August 16, 2014:

Predicted: 300,000
Actual: 298,000

Last Week (Revised): 312,000

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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Employment Situation Report for July 2014

The Employment Situation report for July 2014 was released by The Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics this morning:

Unemployment Rate
Predicted: 6.1%
Actual: 6.2%

Non-farm Payrolls (month-to-month change)
Predicted: +233,000
Actual: +209,000

Average Hourly Earnings (month-to-month change)
Predicted: +0.2%
Actual: 0.0%

Average Workweek
Predicted: 34.5 hrs
Actual: 34.5 hrs

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 and b) 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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ISM Manufacturing Index for July 2014

Earlier today, the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) released their Purchasing Manager's Index (PMI) for July 2014:

Predicted: 56.0%
Actual: 57.1%

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

The PMI is a reliable barometer of U.S. manufacturing: A PMI above 50% implies that U.S. manufacturing expanded during the month specified, while a reading below 50% implies that the factory sector contracted.

Last month, the PMI was 55.3%.

The following is a sampling of quotes from a diverse pool of U.S. manufacturers:

"...'Status quo...sales are okay (not great). Costs are generally flat.'

(Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products)

    'We see slow growth in business as we see a slow growing economy.'

(Fabricated Metal Products)

    'Business is still very good and we are very optimistic for the rest of the year.'

(Transportation Equipment)

    'Bookings down, but shipments strong.'

(Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components)

    'Overall business conditions still good in our industry.'

(Computer & Electronic Products)

    'Geopolitics still present a considerable risk as well as the European market.'

(Chemical Products)

    'Contractors are very busy. Difficult time getting many to bid, especially electrical.'

(Paper Products)

    'Salaries for engineering labor continue to increase above general inflation due to market competition and shortages in certain specialty skills.'

(Petroleum & Coal Products)

    'Economy shows many signs of strength.'

(Machinery)

    'Russia's demand for medical devices from the U.S. has dropped by 40 percent.'

(Miscellaneous Manufacturing)..."

Click here to view the complete ISM report.

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