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 April 28, 2016 update (reflecting data through April 22) is -.924. Of course, there are a variety of other measures and indices that are supposed to measure financial stress and other related …

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Another Recession Probability Indicator – Updated Through Q4 2015

Each month I have been highlighting various estimates of U.S. recession probabilities.  The latest update was that of April 6, 2016, titled “Recession Probability Models – April 2016.” While I don’t agree with the methodologies employed or the probabilities of impending economic weakness as depicted by these and other estimates, I do believe that the …

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Real GDP Chart Since 1947 With Trendline – 1st Quarter 2016

For reference purposes, below is a chart from Doug Short’s “Q1 GDP Advance Estimate at .5%, Worse Than Mainstream Forecasts” post of April 28, 2016, depicting Real GDP, with a trendline, as depicted.  This chart reflects the Gross Domestic Product Q1 2016 Advance Estimate (pdf) of April 28, 2016: _____ The Special Note summarizes my overall thoughts about our economic …

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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 April 21, 2016 update (reflecting data through April 15) is -.862. Of course, there are a variety of other measures and indices that are supposed to measure financial stress and other related …

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Money Supply Charts Through March 2016

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 …

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Updates Of Economic Indicators April 2016

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 April 2016 Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) updated as of April 21, 2016: (current reading of -.44; current reading of CFNAI-MA3 is -.18): – The ECRI WLI (Weekly …

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