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 January 18, 2018 update (reflecting data through January 12, 2018) is -1.492. Of course, there are a variety of other measures and indices that are supposed to measure financial stress and other …

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Broad-Based Indicators Of Economic Activity

The Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) and the Aruoba-Diebold-Scotti Business Conditions Index (ADS Index) are two broad-based economic indicators that I regularly feature in this site. The short-term and long-term trends of each continue to be notable. Doug Short, in his blog post of January 11, 2018, titled “The Philly Fed ADS Index Business …

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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 January 4, 2018 update (reflecting data through December 29, 2017) is -1.562. Of course, there are a variety of other measures and indices that are supposed to measure financial stress and other …

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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 January 4, 2018 update (reflecting data through December 29, 2017) is -1.562. Of course, there are a variety of other measures and indices that are supposed to measure financial stress and other …

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Deflation Probabilities – January 4, 2018 Update

While I do not agree with the current readings of the measure – I think the measure dramatically understates the probability of deflation, as measured by the CPI – the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta maintains an interesting data series titled “Deflation Probabilities.” As stated on the site: Using estimates derived from Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities …

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Recession Probability Models – January 2018

There are a variety of economic models that are supposed to predict the probabilities of recession. While I don’t agree with the methodologies employed or probabilities of impending economic weakness as depicted by the following two models, I think the results of these models should be monitored. Please note that each of these models is …

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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 December 21, 2017 update (reflecting data through December 15, 2017) is -1.527. Of course, there are a variety of other measures and indices that are supposed to measure financial stress and other …

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Money Supply Charts Through November 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 …

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Updates Of Economic Indicators December 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 December 2017 Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) updated as of December 21, 2017: The CFNAI, with current reading of .15: Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Chicago Fed National Activity …

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