Coming this Week
Here are the important economic releases scheduled for the week of Jan. 31, 2005 and what they mean to investors.
Monday – January 31
- Personal Income & Spending – Consumer spending is the driving force in the economy. When personal income and spending are up, it usually bodes well for the economy. When consumers are worried about the future and hold off spending, the economy suffers.
Read Briefing.com’s estimates.
- Chicago PMI – The PMI (Purchasing Managers’ Index) measures how well the manufacturing sector is doing. The PMI index measures five major indicators: new orders, inventory levels, production, supplier deliveries, and the employment environment. If the index is above 50, it indicates manufacturing is expanding over the previous month. A reading below 50 indicates a contraction from the previous month.
Read Briefing.com for their latest estimates.
- New Home Sales – New home sales drive purchases such as appliances and other household goods. Home sales are interest-rate sensitive and will rise and fall with long-term rates.
Read Briefing.com for their latest estimates.
Wednesday – February 2
- FOMC – The Fed’s Open Market Committee will issue its statement concerning interest rates following a two-day meeting, which began Tuesday.
Thursday – February 3
- Initial Claims – Initial claims measures whether the job market is hiring or firing. Fewer initial claims generally means the economy is expanding.
Read Briefing.com for their latest estimates.
Friday – February 4
- Unemployment Rate – This is a lagging indicator. Fewer unemployed means more consumers in the market, but also may eventually put pressure on wages.
Read Briefing.com for their latest estimates.
