Skyline Advisors
  • Services
  • Team
  • Transactions
  • Industries
  • Reports
  • News
    • Capital Markets
    • Firm News
    • Resources
  • Contact
    • Newsletter
  • us

Partners for Strategic Transactions

Consumer Economic Measures Generally Down Last Week

7/4/2018

 
​Last week, consumer confidence (slightly below expectations) and consumer sentiment (up slightly) measures were released by the Conference Board. These readings provided an indication of whether citizens have enough faith in the economy to make a big purchase. Also, the Kansas City Fed Manufacturing Index (down slightly) gave a reading on manufacturing and industrial economic performance throughout the Western Great Plains. Lastly, the Mortgage Bankers Association released their weekly Mortgage Applications Survey (down).
  • On Tuesday morning, The Conference Board released their monthly Consumer Confidence Index for June at 126.4. This reading came in below consensus expectations of 128.1 and was down from May’s revised level of 128.8. Economists surveyed by the Wall Street Journal concluded that a combination of factors could be placing downward pressure on consumer expectations. A volatile stock market, dwindling global growth, increased trade tensions, and rising oil prices and interest rates all may make consumers uneasy about the economic outlook. However, 126.4 remains near decade-high levels for the Index.

  • The U.S. Consumer Sentiment index, not to be confused with the Consumer Confidence Index, was 98.2 in the report released Friday by the University of Michigan, up slightly from the May reading of 98.0. A preliminary report in early June reported a 99.0 expectation for the month. Furthermore, the details of the report were mixed. An index following sentiment of current conditions rose, while the index following expectations on future conditions fell. “The persistent strength has been due to favorable assessments of jobs and incomes,” the Survey’s chief economist, Richard Curtin, told the Wall Street Journal. He also stated that tensions over trade may be depressing household expectations.

  • The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City released their monthly manufacturing report on Thursday. The June composite index was 28, down slightly from a reading of 29 in May. The index is calculated as the percentage of managers who report increases minus those who report decreases. The factory activity, raw materials inventory, and finished goods inventory indices all moved higher in June. The production index and the volume of shipments and new orders all fell throughout the month. From the selected comments section: “Business is strong right now, but tariffs and wage inflation may impact margins going forward.”
​
  • Weekly mortgage applications fell last week as homebuyers continue to drop out of an increasingly expensive housing market. The Mortgage Bankers Association released their weekly Mortgage Application Survey, which showed total mortgage application volume falling 4.9% from the week prior, representing the sharpest drop in four months. Housing demand had been rising in recent months with the economy’s continued strong performance. High prices, as a result of high demand and coupled with rising interest rates and concerns over trade, have homebuyers less willing to make a purchase.

Comments are closed.

    Archives

    May 2023
    May 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    August 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    December 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017

    Categories

    All
    Auto Sales
    Bankruptcies
    Capital Markets
    Confidence
    Corporate Profits
    Debt
    Economy
    GDP
    Holiday
    Housing
    Industrial Production
    Inflation
    Initial Public Offerings
    Interest Rates
    Inventories
    Jobs
    Manufacturing
    Mergers And Acquisitions
    Middle Market
    Prices
    Private Equity
    Productivity
    Retail Spending
    Rural Economy
    Small Business
    Stock Market
    Taxes
    Trade
    Venture Capital
    Wages

    RSS Feed

Picture
​Services involving securities are offered through M&A Securities Group, Inc.4151 N Mulberry Drive Suite 252, Kansas City, MO, 64116  (“MAS") . Services involving real estate brokerage are offered through Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Ambassador Real Estate ("BHHS"). Skyline Advisors, MAS, and BHHS are separate entities. 
​

COPYRIGHT 2025. Skyline Advisors, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Virtual Data Room
Company   Services   Team   Transactions   Industries   Reports   News
Photo from inkknife_2000 (8.5 million views +)
  • Services
  • Team
  • Transactions
  • Industries
  • Reports
  • News
    • Capital Markets
    • Firm News
    • Resources
  • Contact
    • Newsletter
  • us