Empire State Index
The New York Empire State Index is a survey of New York manufactures. It is released near mid month. There are about 175 executives surveyed in New York State that give their opinion of market conditions in the manufacturing sector today and six months into the future. Read more
When is the next Fed meeting?
The next Federal Open Market Committee [FOMC] meeting is Tuesday March 18, 2008. The futures market is expecting the feds cut rate to be 2.25% after the -.75bp cut rate expected on Tuesday. The FOMC meetings have an ELEVATED impact on mortgage bonds and mortgage rates. The lower federal funds rate stimulates the economy, which can cause inflation the arch enemy of Mortgage Bonds.
Consumer Price Index [cpi] and Core CPI
The Consumer Price Index is a measure of the average price a set group of goods and services cost 80% of the population. Read more
Retail Sales Index and Ex-Auto Retail Sales
The Retail Sale index is a closely watch economic indicator and an ELEVATED mortgage rate mover. Retail Sales are a sample of many different sized retail stores. It does not include services, but it the markets closely observe it. It can be associated with Read more
Balance of Trade
The Balance of Trade a comparison of the value of goods and services imported and exports. When there is a deficiency in the amount of exports, this usually signals and increase in consumption. Read more
Employment Situation Summary or Employment Report
The Employment Situation Report is an ELEVATED mortgage rate mover. The Employment Situation Report is tremendously important because Average Hourly Earnings, Average Work Week, Non-Farm Payrolls, and the Unemployment Rate Read more
Beige Book Survey of Current Economic Conditions by the FED
The Beige Book is published two weeks before the FOMC [federal open market committee] eight times a year. Instead of focusing on statistics the 12 regional reports and 1 national are more like a conversation Read more
Institute for Supply Management [ISM] Non-Manufacturing Index
The ISM Non-Manufacturing Index measures services by surveying about 370 purchasing executives. The report focuses on industries such as finance, insurance, real estate, Read more
Productivity and Cost Labor Report
Productivity and Cost of Labor is a measure of the efficiency of the work force. The idea is that a more efficient Read more
Institute for Supply Management [ISM] Manufacturing Index
The ISM surveys 400+ companies purchasing manager’s throughout the US. The managers surveyed give their current opinion of their business outlook. The results are diffused, comparing their previous answers with their current outlook. When the index is at 50% Read more