Consumer Confidence Surveys – As Of July 28, 2017

Doug Short had a blog post of July 28, 2017 (“Michigan Consumer Sentiment:  July Final Continues to Slip“) in which he presents the latest Conference Board Consumer Confidence and Thomson/Reuters University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index charts.  They are presented below: (click on charts to enlarge images) – There are a few aspects of the above charts …

Read more

Real GDP Chart Since 1947 With Trendline – 2nd Quarter 2017

For reference purposes, below is a chart from Doug Short’s “Q2 GDP Advance Estimate: Real GDP at 2.6%” post of July 28, 2017, depicting Real GDP, with a trendline, as depicted.  This chart reflects the Gross Domestic Product Q2 2017 Advance Estimate (pdf) of July 28, 2017: _________ I post various indicators and indices because I believe they …

Read more

Updates Of Economic Indicators July 2017

Here is an update of various indicators that are supposed to predict and/or depict economic activity. These indicators have been discussed in previous blog posts: The July 2017 Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) updated as of July 27, 2017: The CFNAI, with current reading of .13: Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Chicago Fed National Activity Index …

Read more

Chicago Fed National Financial Conditions Index (NFCI)

The St. Louis Fed’s Financial Stress Index (STLFSI) is one index that is supposed to measure stress in the financial system.  Its reading as of the July 20, 2017 update (reflecting data through July 14, 2017) is -1.505. Of course, there are a variety of other measures and indices that are supposed to measure financial stress and other …

Read more

The U.S. Economic Situation – July 24, 2017 Update

Perhaps the main reason that I write of our economic situation is that I continue to believe, based upon various analyses, that our economic situation is in many ways misunderstood.  While no one likes to contemplate a future rife with economic adversity, current and future economic problems must be properly recognized and rectified if high-quality, …

Read more

Money Supply Charts Through June 2017

For reference purposes, below are two sets of charts depicting growth in the money supply. The first shows the MZM (Money Zero Maturity), defined in FRED as the following: M2 less small-denomination time deposits plus institutional money funds. Money Zero Maturity is calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Here is the “MZM …

Read more

Chicago Fed National Financial Conditions Index (NFCI)

The St. Louis Fed’s Financial Stress Index (STLFSI) is one index that is supposed to measure stress in the financial system.  Its reading as of the July 13, 2017 update (reflecting data through July 7, 2017) is -1.475. Of course, there are a variety of other measures and indices that are supposed to measure financial stress and other …

Read more