November Consumer Price Index up 2.2 percent year-on-year

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.4 percent in November and 2.2 percent year-on-year. The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.1 percent in November and 1.7 percent year-on-year.

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November Small Business Optimism Index rises to highest level in 34 years

Not since the roaring Reagan economy has small business optimism been as high as it was in November, according to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Index of Small Business Optimism, rising another 3.7 points in November to 107.5.

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November Producer Price Index up 3.1 percent year-on-year, highest rate since January 2012

The Producer Price Index for final demand increased 0.4 percent in November. On an unadjusted basis, the final demand index rose 3.1 percent for the 12 months ended in November, the largest advance since a 3.1-percent increase for the 12 months ended January 2012.

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Job openings fell 2.9 percent in October as hires rate rose more than separations

The number of job openings fell by nearly three percent to 6.2 million on the last business day of October. Over the month, hires increased 4.4 percent to 5.6 million and separations fell 1.3 percent to 5.2 million.

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Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index rises to 13-week high

Improved sentiment about the buying climate and personal finances helped carry household optimism to a 13-week high to 52.3. One sign of the stock market’s effect on optimism was that confidence among those who are unemployed, which includes retirees, reached a new 16-year high as the values of retirement accounts climbed.

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Consumer sentiment index dips to 96.8 in early December reading

Consumer sentiment has remained quite favorable although it continued to slowly recede in early December from its October cyclical peak. Most of the recent decline was concentrated in the long-term prospects for the economy, while consumers thought current economic conditions have continued to improve.

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November consumer credit use rose at highest rate in 11 months

American consumers increased their borrowing by $20.5 billion in October. It was the biggest gain in 11 months and reflected strong increases in the use of credit cards and in auto and student loans.

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Job growth dipped slightly in November to 228,000, unemployment rate remains at 4.1 percent

Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 228,000 in November, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.1 percent. Employment continued to trend up in professional and business services, manufacturing, and health care.

The labor force participation rate remained at 62.7 percent in November and has shown no clear trend over the past 12 months. The employment-population ratio, at 60.1 percent, changed little in November and has shown little movement, on net, since early this year.

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3Q 2017 productivity grew at 4.1 percent, highest rate since 3Q 2014

Nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased 3.0 percent during the third quarter of 2017, as output increased 4.1 percent and hours worked increased 1.1 percent. The productivity increase was the largest since the third quarter of 2014, when output per hour increased 4.4 percent. From the third quarter of 2016 to the third quarter of 2017, productivity increased 1.5 percent, reflecting a 3.0-percent increase in output and a 1.5-percent increase in hours worked.

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ADP: November job growth of 190,000 dips slightly from October

According to ADP, private-sector employment increased by 190,000 from October to November on a seasonally adjusted basis.  This compares with 235,000 jobs the previous month and 226,000 jobs in the  same month of 2016.

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ISM November non-manufacturing index dips 2.7 points to 60.1

The NMI® registered 57.4 percent, which is 2.7 percentage points lower than the October reading of 60.1 percent. Comments from the survey respondents indicate that the economy and sector will continue to grow for the remainder of the year.

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ISM November manufacturing index dips 0.5 points to 58.2

The November PMI® registered 58.2 percent, a decrease of 0.5 percentage point from the October reading of 58.7 percent. Comments from the panel reflect expanding business conditions, with New Orders and Production leading gains, employment expanding at a slower rate, order backlogs stable and expanding, and export orders all continuing to grow in November.

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Markit Purchasing Managers' Index dipped slightly in October to 53.9

The seasonally adjusted IHS Markit final US Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index™ (PMI™) registered 53.9 in November, down from 54.6 in October. The latest index reading signaled robust, albeit slower, overall growth in the manufacturing sector. The latest upturn was in line with the long-run series average.

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Factory goods orders fall 0.1 percent in October after two months of strong growth

Orders for U.S. manufactured goods fell 0.1% to a seasonally adjusted $479.6 billion in October after two straight months of strong growth. Excluding transportation, a volatile part of the overall reading, factory orders were up 0.8% in October from the previous month. Orders were up 0.2% in the same time frame when excluding defense spending, another volatile part of factory orders figures.

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October construction spending jumps at highest rate in five months

October construction spending increased 1.4 percent to $1.24 trillion, the swiftest advance in five months. Outlays on public construction projects jumped 3.9 percent, the largest gain since 2014. Spending on state and local government construction projects climbed 3.3 percent, while federal government construction spending soared 11.1 percent.

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