• June 1, 2017
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In a major sign of a US economic rebound, the private sector added 253,000 jobs in May, according to payroll processor ADP. The figure far exceeded expectations of 185,000.

• June 1, 2017
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• realestatelife

The benchmark rate for home loans remained in free fall in the most recent week in the wake of lackluster economic data that hinted the central bank may be slower to raise interest rates than it expects. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.94%, down one basis point during the week and marking a fresh 2017

• June 1, 2017
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U.S. manufacturing continued to churn higher in May, according to a survey of purchasing managers released Thursday. The Institute for Supply Management said its manufacturing index edged up a tenth of a point to 54.9%. Economists polled expected a reading of 55%. Readings above 50% indicate expansion.

• May 31, 2017
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A gauge of home purchase contract signings slumped for a second month in April, another sign the housing market is still struggling for a balance between supply and demand. The pending home sales index from the National Association of Realtors fell 1.3% to a level of 109.8 from a downwardly-revised March reading. The index was

• May 31, 2017
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The Chicago business barometer, or Chicago PMI, fell to 55.8 in May from a 28-month high of 58.3 in April. Any reading over 50 indicates improving conditions

• May 30, 2017
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Spending jumps 0.4%; inflationary pressures wane. Aided by rising incomes and tax refunds, Americans boosted spending in April at the fastest clip since the end of 2016 in another sign the economy has speeded up during the spring. Lower inflation that reflects falling oil prices also gave households an extra cushion.

• May 30, 2017
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The smallest annual increase of any of the 20 cities is still about double the rate of inflation. The S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city index rose 5.9% compared to a year ago in the three-month period ending in March, a tick higher than the 5.8% gain economists expected. That was the strongest annual price gain since July 2014.

• May 30, 2017
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Consumer confidence fell in May for the second month in a row, suggesting Americans have tempered their expectations for the economy after a huge burst of optimism earlier in the year. The Conference Board said its consumer confidence index dropped to 117.9 in May from 119.4 in April. Just three months earlier, consumer confidence hit

• May 26, 2017
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Orders for long-lasting goods such as planes and appliances fell in April for the first time in five months, suggesting that a resurgent U.S. manufacturing industry has cooled off a bit. Durable-goods orders dropped 0.7% last month amid weakness in most key segments of heavy industry. The decline follows four straight increases, including a revised

• May 26, 2017
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Turns out the U.S. economy wasn’t totally asleep in the first three months of 2017: the government raised the growth rate to 1.2% from its original 0.7% estimate.