Productivity and Labor Cost Report for Q2, 2007 Released Today (Revised)

The Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics this morning released its quarterly report on Productivity and Unit Labor Costs for the second quarter of 2007 (revised data):

Non-farm Productivity
Predicted: +2.5%
Actual: +2.6%

Unit Labor Costs
Predicted: +1.5%
Actual: +1.4%

The above percentages represent the quarter-to-quarter change in non-farm productivity and unit labor costs.

For non-farm productivity, a positive number represents an improvement in the efficiency of producing domestic goods and services in the U.S., and therefore can signify a favorable inflationary outlook, and vice versa.

The Unit Labor Costs report measures the costs related to producing each unit of output. A positive number can be a harbinger of rising inflation, 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 Labor Department report (PDF.)

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Gross Domestic Product (GDP) "Preliminary" Released Today for Q2, 2007

The preliminary, real U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report for the second quarter of 2007 was released this morning:

Predicted: +4.0%
Actual: +4.0%

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 actual or real figure. The GDP report is produced by the U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis.

The final GDP report for Q2, 2007, which will contain the most authoritative data for the second quarter, will be released on September 27, 2007.

The GDP is a very broad measure of economic activity for the entire United States, covering all sectors of the economy. The Commerce Department defines real GDP as, "the output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States."

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

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Productivity and Labor Cost Report for Q2, 2007 Released Today (Preliminary)

The Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics this morning released its quarterly report on Productivity and Unit Labor Costs for the second quarter of 2007 (preliminary data):

Non-farm Productivity
Predicted: +2.1%
Actual: 1.8%

Unit Labor Costs
Predicted: +1.6%
Actual: +2.1%

The above percentages represent the quarter-to-quarter change in non-farm productivity and unit labor costs.

For non-farm productivity, a positive number represents an improvement in the efficiency of producing domestic goods and services in the U.S., and therefore can signify a favorable inflationary outlook, and vice versa.

The Unit Labor Costs report measures the costs related to producing each unit of output. A positive number can be a harbinger of rising inflation, 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 Labor Department report (PDF.)

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Productivity and Labor Cost Report for Q1, 2007 Released Today (Revised)

The Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics this morning released its quarterly report on Productivity and Unit Labor Costs for the first quarter of 2007 (revised data):

Non-farm Productivity
Predicted: +1.0%
Actual: +1.0%

Unit Labor Costs
Predicted: +1.5%
Actual: +1.8%

The above percentages represent the quarter-to-quarter change in non-farm productivity and unit labor costs.

For non-farm productivity, a positive number represents an improvement in the efficiency of producing domestic goods and services in the U.S., and therefore can signify a favorable inflationary outlook, and vice versa.

The Unit Labor Costs report measures the costs related to producing each unit of output. A positive number can be a harbinger of rising inflation, 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 Labor Department report (PDF.)

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Redbook Numbers for The Week of June 2, 2007

The Redbook numbers for the week that ended on June 2, 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 June of 2006.

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

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U.S. Factory Orders Report for April, 2007

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

Predicted: +0.7%
Actual: +0.3%

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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Construction Spending during April, 2007

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

Predicted: +0.0%
Actual: +0.1%

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 last year: -2.0%

Click here to view the full Census Bureau report.

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New Unemployment Insurance Claims for The Week of May 26, 2007

Earlier today, the Labor Department released the New Unemployment Insurance Claims report for the week that ended on May 26, 2007:

Predicted: 310,000
Actual: 310,000

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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Gross Domestic Product (GDP) "Preliminary" Released Today for Q1, 2007

The preliminary, real U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report for the first quarter of 2007 was released this morning:

Predicted: +0.8%
Actual: +0.6%

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 actual or real figure. The GDP report is produced by the U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis.

The final GDP report for Q1, 2007, which will contain the most authoritative data for the fourth quarter, will be released on June 28, 2007.

The GDP is a very broad measure of economic activity for the entire United States, covering all sectors of the economy. The Commerce Department defines real GDP as, "the output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States."

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

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Redbook Numbers for The Week of May 26, 2007

The Redbook numbers for the week that ended on May 26, 2007 were released this morning:

Redbook Sales Figures: +2.4%

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 2.4% when compared to sales during the corresponding week back in May of 2006.

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

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Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) for May, 2007

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

Predicted: 105.0
Actual: 108.0

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 104.

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Existing Home Sales for April, 2007

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

Predicted: 6,200,000
Actual: 5,990,000
Change from Last Month: -2.6%
Change from Last Year: -10.7%

Median Price for A Preowned, Single-Family
Home In April, 2007: $220,900

Average Price for A Preowned, Single-Family
Home In April, 2007: $268,400

The "actual" figure above represents the preliminary 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.

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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New Home Sales for April, 2007

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

Predicted: 860,000

Actual New Home Sales: 981,000

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

Change from Last Month: +16.2%

Change from Last Year: -10.6%

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

Median Price for a New Home during April: $229,100

Average Price for a New Home during April: $299,100


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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Durable Goods Orders Report for April, 2007 Released Today

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

Predicted: +1.2%
Actual: +0.6%

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, microwave ovens, 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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New Unemployment Insurance Claims for The Week of May 19, 2007

Earlier today, the Labor Department released the New Unemployment Insurance Claims report for the week that ended on May 19, 2007:

Predicted: 310,000
Actual: 311,000

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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2007 Hurricane Predictions

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) today released predictions for the 2007 Atlantic basin hurricane season:

Probability of an Above-Normal Hurricane Season: 75%

Probability of a Near-Normal Hurricane Season: 20%

Probability of a Below-Normal Hurricane Season: 5%

Predicted # of Named Storms: 13 to 17

Predicted # of Named Storms Becoming Hurricanes: 7 to 10

Predicted # of Named Storms Becoming Major Hurricanes: 3 to 5

Click here to view the full NOAA report.

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Redbook Numbers for The Week of May 19, 2007

The Redbook numbers for the week that ended on May 19, 2007 were released this morning:

Redbook Sales Figures: +2.0%

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 2.0% when compared to sales during the corresponding week back in May of 2006.

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

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Leading Economic Indicators for April, 2007

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

Actual: -0.5%

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 10-year Treasury Notes 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 May 12, 2007

Earlier today, the Labor Department released the New Unemployment Insurance Claims report for the week that ended on May 12, 2007:

Predicted: 310,000
Actual: 293,000

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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Industrial Production for April, 2007

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

Industrial Production:
Predicted: +0.2%
Actual: +0.7%

Capacity Utilization Rate:
Predicted: 81.5%
Actual: 81.6%

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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