• October 12, 2017
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Initial weekly jobless claims fell by 15,000 to 243,000 in early October to mark the lowest level in six weeks. Economists polled had forecast claims to total 250,000. The more stable monthly average of new claims dropped by 9,500 to 257,500 in the week ended Oct. 7. The number of people already collecting unemployment benefits,

• October 12, 2017
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The producer price index jumped 0.4% in September. Another measure preferred by economists, known as core PPI, rose a smaller 0.2%. The core rate strips out food, energy and trade margins. The increase in the PPI pushed the 12-month rate of wholesale inflation to 2.6%, the highest level since February of 2012.

• October 11, 2017
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August JOLTS 6.082M vs. estimates of 6.125M. This report continues to show a very large amount of unfilled jobs, mostly due to a mismatch of skills of workers looking for work vs skills needed for the open position and signifies room to run for wages as competition heats up for the skilled.

• October 11, 2017
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Chicago Fed President Charles Evans on Wednesday said a December interest rate hike was not a done deal, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. In a talk in Zurich, Evans said he saw scope for an “honest discussion” about whether it is the right time to raise interest rates. Evans said the

• October 6, 2017
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The U.S. workforce shrank by 33,000 jobs in September as employment was undercut by hurricanes Harvey and Irma. It was the first contraction in seven years. Economists polled had predicted a 75,000 increase in nonfarm jobs, but estimates were all over the map because of uncertainty about the effects of the storms. The unemployment rate,

• October 5, 2017
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The U.S. trade deficit dropped 2.7% in August to $42.4 billion from $43.6 billion in July. Economists polled by MarketWatch had forecast a $42.6 billion gap. Imports slipped 0.1% to $237.7 billion. Exports rose 0.4% to $195.3 billion, the Commerce Department said Thursday.

• October 4, 2017
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The Institute for Supply Management’s index of service-oriented companies such as banks and retailers jumped to a 12-year high of 59.8% in September from 55.3%. The last time the index was higher was in August 2005.

• October 4, 2017
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September ISM Non-Manufacturing (Services) hit 59.8 vs. estimates of 55.5 This is a strong reading considering anything above 50 is expansionary and the Services sector accounts for more than 2/3 of our economic output.  This is very negative for bonds and interest rate pricing.

• October 4, 2017
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Private-sector employment slowed in September as firms added 135,000 jobs ADP reported Wednesday. The gain was close to estimates which had forecast a September gain of 140,000 jobs, compared with an original reported increase of 237,000 for August. On Wednesday, ADP revised August’s gain to 228,000.

• October 2, 2017
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Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashari on Monday openly disagreed with Fed Chairwoman Janet Yellen by urging the central bank not to raise interest rates again until inflation hits the central bank’s 2% annual target. “My preference would be not to raise rates again until we actually hit 2% core PCE inflation on a 12- month