Weekly Economic Update December 1 - 5, 2014
The ISM index ticked down to 58.7 for November. Vehicle sales rose 4.5% to an annual rate of 17.2 million units in November. Construction spending increased 1.1% in October. Nonfarm productivity was revised up to an annualized 2.3% for the third quarter. The ISM services index ticked up to 59.3. The economy added 321,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in November while the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.8%. The U.S. trade deficit slightly narrowed to $43.4 billion in October. Factory orders fell 0.7% in October. Consumer credit increased $13.23 billion (0.4%) to $3.279 trillion in October. Initial jobless claims fell 17,000 to 297,000 for the week ended 11/29.
- The ISM index ticked down to 58.7 for November.
- Vehicle sales rose 4.5% to an annual rate of 17.2 million units in November. Sales are up 5.6% from a year ago.
- Construction spending increased 1.1% in October. Spending is up 3.3% from a year ago.
- Nonfarm productivity was revised up to an annualized 2.3% for the third quarter. Unit labor costs were revised down to a -1.0%. Year-on-year, productivity is up 1.0% and costs are up 1.2%.
- The ISM services index ticked up to 59.3.
- The economy added 321,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in November while the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.8%. Private payrolls increased 314,000. Private service-providing jobs jumped 266,000 after a 208,000 increase in October, largely centered in professional & business services (+86,000) and retail trade (+50,000). In the household survey, unemployed persons remained little changed at 9.1 million, and long-term unemployed was 2.8 million, 30.7% of the unemployed. The labor force participation rate stood unchanged essentially since April at 62.8%. The employment-to-population ratio was also unchanged at 59.2%.
- The U.S. trade deficit slightly narrowed to $43.4 billion in October. Exports were up 1.2% while imports increased 0.9%.
- Factory orders fell 0.7% in October.
- Consumer credit increased $13.23 billion (0.4%) to $3.279 trillion in October. Revolving credit (i.e., credit cards) increased $922 million (0.1%), while non-revolving credit (i.e., auto loans) increased $12.3 billion (0.5%).
- Initial jobless claims fell 17,000 to 297,000 for the week ended November 29th.