Economic Reports - Toga Times

The week in numbers report includes several numbers and statistics over a large variety of economic reports. Here’s a listing of the reports that are utilized along with the report’s definition. Definitions of the reports include the frequency of reporting, reporting organization, purpose of the report, data in the report, and what the reported number represents.

Building Permits: Reported monthly by the US Census Bureau and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that measures the number of permits issued for new residential and non-residential construction projects. The data is collected through surveys of local building departments and other government agencies that issue building permits. The survey asks respondents to report on the number of permits issued during the reporting period, as well as the type of construction including residential or non-residential such as office buildings, factories, and retail stores. The reported number is the seasonally-adjusted annual rate of new permits issued for the month. The adjustment takes into account fluctuations in permit issuance that may be influenced by seasonal factors such as weather, holidays, and other recurring events.
Business Inventories: Reported monthly by The U.S. Census Bureau to measure the change in the total value of inventories held by manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers in the United States. Data is collected by surveys that ask businesses in the selected sectors to report the total value of their inventories at the end of the month, as well as the total value of sales made during the same period. The data is aggregated and seasonally adjusted. The reported number is the percentage change from the previous month’s total value of inventory. A positive number indicates that inventories have increased, while a negative number indicates that inventories have decreased.
Capacity Utilization: Reported monthly by the Federal Reserve Board that measures the level of productive capacity being used by U.S. manufacturing, mining, and utility industries. The report is based on a survey of approximately 4,500 industrial companies, which are asked about their level of production and capacity utilization during the previous month. The number reported is the capacity utilization rate, expressed as a percentage from 0-100% and represents the proportion of total available capacity (equipment, factories, and other productive resources) being used by the 3 industries to create goods and services.
Consumer Credit: Reported monthly by the Federal Reserve representing data and analysis on borrowing and lending activity in the consumer credit market. The report includes all forms of credit such as credit cards, auto loans, student loans, home equity and several other types of personal and revolving credit lines. The reported number represents the total amount of outstanding credit held by consumers, as well as any changes in that amount from the previous month.
CPI (Consumer Price Index): Reported monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which is an agency of the US Department of Labor that measures changes in the prices of a basket of goods and services commonly purchased by consumers. The report uses a market basket of goods and services which includes thousands of items across several categories, such as food and beverage, housing, transportation, medical care, and education. The price data for these items from a variety of sources, such as retail stores, supermarkets, and online retailers is collected from 87 urban areas across the country to calculate an index that reflects the average change in the prices over time. The reported number is a percentage change in the index (basket of goods and services) from the previous month or year.
Durable Orders: Reported monthly by the U.S. Census Bureau that provides data on new orders for manufactured durable goods. Data for the report is collected through a survey of several thousand manufacturers that produce durable goods, including transportation equipment, machinery, and fabricated metal products. The reported number is the month-over-month percentage change in the total dollar value of new orders for durable goods during the month.
Durable Goods Except Transportation: This is a variant report of the Durable Orders report that that excludes transportation goods manufacturers from the report. For more information see Durable Orders.
Core CPI: This report is a variant of the CPI report that is based on the same basket of goods and services only excluding food and energy in calculating the index value. The core CPI report is considered a more reliable measure of underlying inflation trends as it excludes the often price volatile food and energy items. See CPI for more information.
EIA Crude Oil Inventories: Reported weekly by the Energy Information Administration (EIA), which is a division of the U.S. Department of Energy on the amount of crude oil stored in U.S. commercial inventories as of the end of the previous week. The reported number represents the change in the amount of crude oil stored in U.S. commercial inventories from week to week.
EIA Natural Gas Inventories: Reported weekly by the Energy Information Administration (EIA), which is a division of the U.S. Department of Energy on the current levels of natural gas held in storage in the United States. The reported number represents the change in total volume in billions of cubic feet of natural gas held in storage as of the previous Friday.
Empire State Manufacturing Index: Reported monthly by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to provide a snapshot of the health of the manufacturing sector in New York and broader economic conditions in the region. Based on a survey of around 200 manufacturers in New York state, who are asked about their general business conditions, including their production, new orders, employment, inventories and their expectations for future business conditions. The index is a diffusion index, which means that it is based on the percentage of manufacturers who report improvements in their business conditions minus the percentage who report declines. The reported number if positive indicates that more manufacturers are reporting improving business conditions than declining conditions, while a negative number indicates the opposite.
GDP (Gross Domestic Product): Reported quarterly by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) an agency of the US Department of Commerce, that measures the total value of all goods and services produced within a country’s borders. The report is an aggregation of Personal consumption expenditure, private domestic investment (business spending), net exports, and government spending. The reported number is the percentage change in the value of goods and services produced (adjusted for inflation) compared to the same quarter a year ago.
GDP (Gross Domestic Product) Deflator: Reported quarterly by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measures the overall price level of goods and services produced, and serves as an indicator of inflation or deflation. The reported number indicates the percentage change in the general price level of goods and services produced compared to the same quarter a year ago.
Housing Starts: Reported monthly by the US Census Bureau and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that measures the number of new residential construction projects that have begun. The data is collected through surveys of builders and developers across the country that asks respondents to report on the number of new residential construction projects that have be started during the month. The survey additionally asks for the type of construction (single-family or multi-family) and the intended use of the units (rental or owner-occupied). The reported number is the seasonally-adjusted annualized number of new housing starts for the previous month.
IHS Markit Manufacturing PMI (Purchasing Managers’ Index): Reported monthly by IHS Markit (a global provider of financial and economic data and analysis) that provides insights into the health of the manufacturing sector. The report is a survey of about 400 purchasing managers at manufacturing companies, who are asked about their company’s production, new orders, inventory levels, employment, and other factors that can affect the manufacturing sector. The reported number is a weighted average derived from the surveys that ranges from 0-100, a number above 50 indicates that the manufacturing sector is expanding, while a number below 50 indicates that the sector is contracting.
IHS Markit Services PMI (Purchasing Managers’ Index): Reported monthly by IHS Markit (a global provider of financial and economic data and analysis) that provides insights into the health of the U.S. services sector. The report is based on a survey of purchasing managers at services companies that are asked about new orders, employment levels, business activity, and prices. he reported number is a weighted average derived from the surveys that ranges from 0-100, a number above 50 indicates that the services sector is expanding, while a number below 50 indicates that the sector is contracting.
Industrial Production: Reported monthly by the Federal Reserve Board that measures the output of the U.S. manufacturing, mining, and utility sectors. The report is based on a survey of around 300 manufacturing, mining, and utility companies, which are asked about their production levels and capacity utilization rate, which is the percentage of total production capacity that is actually being used. The data is then compiled into an index called the Industrial Production Index (IPI), which represents the total output of the 3 sectors. The reported number is the percentage change in the index from month to month.
ISM Manufacturing Index: Reported monthly by The Institute for Supply Management (ISM). The index is based on a survey of purchasing and supply executives across various manufacturing industries. These executives are asked about current conditions including factors like new orders, production levels, employment, supplier deliveries, and inventories. The index is expressed as a percentage, with a reading above 50 indicating expansion in the manufacturing sector, and a reading below 50 indicating contraction.
ISM Non-Manufacturing Index: Reported monthly by The Institute for Supply Management (ISM). The index is based on a survey of purchasing and supply executives across various service industries. These executives are asked about current conditions including factors like new orders, employment, supplier deliveries, and prices. The index is expressed as a percentage, with a reading above 50 indicating expansion in the services sector, and a reading below 50 indicating contraction.
Jobless Claims – Initial: Reported weekly by the U.S. Department of Labor that provides information on the number of individuals who filed for unemployment benefits for the first time. The data is collected from state unemployment offices across the United States. The reported number represents the total number of individuals who filed for unemployment benefits for the first time in the previous week. The reported number does not include individuals who are currently receiving unemployment benefits or who have already exhausted their benefits.
Jobless Claims – Continuing: Reported weekly by the U.S. Department of Labor on the number of individuals who continue to receive unemployment benefits. The data is collected from state unemployment offices across the United States on individuals who have already filed for and received initial unemployment benefits, and who continue to receive benefits in subsequent weeks. The reported number represents the number of individuals who are currently receiving unemployment benefits.
Labor Costs: Reported quarterly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to measure changes in the cost of labor required to produce one unit of output in the nonfarm business sector. The report includes data on output, hours worked, labor productivity, and unit labor costs. Data for the report is collected through surveys of businesses and government agencies that asks for information on output, hours worked, and compensation. The reported number is the percentage change quarter-over-quarter in the total labor compensation cost of producing a unit of output.
MBA Mortgage Applications Index: Reported weekly by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), a national trade association that represents the real estate finance industry. The report tracks the number of mortgage applications submitted by home buyers and homeowners looking to refinance their existing mortgages. The number reported represents the percentage change in the total number of mortgage applications from the previous week.
NAHB Housing Market Index: Reported monthly by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) that measures the confidence of homebuilders in the United States housing market. The index is based on a survey of NAHB members, who are asked to rate their perceptions of current and future market conditions for new single-family homes. The reported number is a score that ranges from 0 to 100, with a score above 50 indicating that more builders view conditions as positive than negative, while a score below 50 indicating the opposite.
Net Long-Term TIC Flows: Reported monthly by the US Department of the Treasury that measures the inflows and outflows of capital into and out of the United States. Treasury International Capital (TIC) is a network of surveys gathered by the Treasury, the Federal Reserve, and other government agencies that are designed to capture information on cross-border transactions, including purchases and sales of securities and other financial assets. The data in the report is broken down by country of origin and the type of investor, including foreign governments, private investors, and official institutions such as central banks. The reported number is the net inflow (positive) or outflow (negative) of long-term capital into or out of the United States during the reported month.
New Home Sales: Reported monthly by the US Census Bureau that provides data on the sales of new single-family homes. The report includes several key components, including the number of new homes sold during the month, the median sales price of new homes, the inventory of new homes for sale, and the median time it takes to sell a new home. The data used to compile the report comes from a survey of homebuilders and is based on the number of contracts signed for new homes. The reported number is the adjusted annualized number of new homes being sold, a percentage change from the previous months adjusted annualized number is also added.
NFIB Small Business Optimism: Reported monthly by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Research Foundation as an index that measures the sentiment and confidence of small business owners in the United States. The data used in the report is derived from a monthly survey of NFIB members, which includes questions about the current state of their business, future plans, and overall economic conditions. The survey covers a wide range of topics, including sales, hiring, capital spending, inventory levels, and inflation. The reported number is an index that ranges from 0 to 100, with a higher number indicating greater optimism and confidence among small business owners.
PCE (Personal Consumption Expenditure) Prices: Reported monthly by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measures changes in the prices of goods and services purchased by consumers. This is the most important report to the Federal Reserve concerning their decisions around current and future interest rates. The report is based on data collected from a variety of sources, including surveys of households, government agencies, and private businesses. The reported number is the percentage change in prices on PCE month-over-month, and is the primary gauge the Fed uses to measure inflation.
PCE (Personal Consumption Expenditure) Prices – Core: A variant report of the PCE (Personal Consumption Expenditure) Prices that excludes the highly volatile food and energy sectors which can be influenced by temporary factors such as weather, geopolitical events, and supply disruptions. See PCE Prices above for more information.
Personal Income: Reported monthly by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measures the amount of income received by individuals. The report is based on data collected from a variety of sources, including surveys of households, government agencies, and private businesses. The report contains more detailed information on categories, such as wages and salaries, proprietors’ income, rental income, interest and dividend income, and transfer payments. The reported number is in nominal terms and represents the month-over-month percentage change in personal income.
Personal Spending: Reported monthly by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measures the total amount of money spent by consumers. The report is based on data collected from a variety of sources, including surveys of households, government agencies, and private businesses. The report contains more detailed information on categories, such as durable goods (long-lasting items like cars and appliances), nondurable goods (items like food and clothing), and services (like healthcare and transportation). The reported number is in nominal terms and represents the month-over-month percentage change in personal spending.
PPI (Producer Price Index): Reported monthly by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics that tracks the prices of goods and services at the producer level, which includes raw materials, intermediate goods, and finished goods. The data is collected through surveys of producers across the country asking respondents about the selling prices of their goods and services, as well as the costs of their inputs (such as raw materials and labor) used to produce those goods and services. The reported number is the percentage change in the index from the previous month or year.
PPI – Core (Core Producer Price Index): Reported monthly by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics is a variant report of the PPI that excludes the highly volatile food and energy sectors which can be influenced by temporary factors such as weather, geopolitical events, and supply disruptions. See PPI for more information.
Productivity: Reported quarterly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to measure changes in labor productivity in the nonfarm business sector. The report includes data on output, hours worked, labor productivity, and unit labor costs. Data for the report is collected through surveys of businesses and government agencies that asks for information on output, hours worked, and compensation. The reported number is the percentage change quarter-over-quarter in the amount of output produced per hour worked.
Retail Sales: Reported monthly by the US Census Bureau, which is an agency of the US Department of Commerce that measures the total sales of goods and services by retailers in the United States. The report uses data collected from a sample of about 5,000 retail businesses on sales for various categories of goods and services such as clothing, electronics, automobiles, and restaurant services. The reported number is a percentage change in total retail sales from the previous month or year. The report also includes information on retail prices and the volume of sales.
Treasury Budget: Reported Monthly by the U.S. Department of the Treasury on the financial operations of the U.S. federal government. The data in the report is based on information from the government’s accounting system and includes information on the government’s revenues, expenses, and budget deficit or surplus. The reported number is the budget balance, which is the difference between the government’s revenues and expenses for the previous month. A positive budget balance indicates a surplus, which means that the government took in more revenue than it spent. A negative budget balance indicates a deficit, which means that the government spent more than it took in.
University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment: Reported monthly by the University of Michigan’s Survey Research Center which compiles survey information on the attitudes and opinions of consumers in the United States. The survey is conducted by phone of approximately 500 households across the country, and includes information on consumers’ views on their personal finances, economic conditions, and future expectations. The report is released in two parts, with preliminary results released in the middle of the month and final results released at the end of the month. The reported number is an index that is scaled to a baseline of 100, with values above 100 indicating positive sentiment and values below 100 indicating negative sentiment.
Wholesale Inventories: Reported monthly by the U.S. Census Bureau on the amount of goods held in inventory by wholesalers in the United States. The reported number represents the percentage change in the total amount of inventory held by wholesalers from the previous month.