Industrial production was unchanged in March.  Retail sales were up 0.8% in March.  Existing home sales declined 2.6% in March while housing starts were down 5.8% and building permits rose 4.5%.  Initial jobless claims edged down 2,000 to 386,000 for the week ended 4/14.

• Industrial production was unchanged in March.  Production remains more than 4% below its prior peak reached at the end of 2007.
• Retail sales increased 0.8% in March.
• Existing home sales unexpectedly declined 2.6% to an annual pace of 4.48 million units in March.  The median home price of $163,800 was up 2.5% from a year ago while sales were 5.2% higher than a year ago.  The inventory of homes for sale continued to trend down to a 6.3 month supply, about 22% lower than a year ago.
• Housing starts unexpectedly declined 5.8% to an annual rate of 654,000 units in March.
• Building permits surprised on the upside with a 4.5% increase, to an annual rate of 747,000 units in March.
• Initial jobless claims edged down 2,000 to a level of 386,000 for the week ended April 14^th.