BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Week in Preview: Retail Sales, Consumer Credit and Earnings]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2011/03/06/week-in-preview-retail-sales-consumer-credit-earnings/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2011/03/06/week-in-preview-retail-sales-consumer-credit-earnings/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2011/03/06/week-in-preview-retail-sales-consumer-credit-earnings/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

earnings expectationsSo, the unemployment rate sank below 9% in February, but investors didn't seem to be impressed by that. The Dow, Nasdaq and S&P 500 all fell on Friday over concerns about how the ongoing unrest in the Middle East might affect energy prices, and thus the economic recovery.

Will this coming week's economic calendar offer anything likely to bring excitement to the markets? Here's what's on tap:

  • Monday: Consumer credit numbers for January
  • Tuesday: Weekly chain store sales, TIPP Economic Optimism Index

Continue reading Week in Preview: Retail Sales, Consumer Credit and Earnings

Week in Preview: Retail Sales, Consumer Credit and Earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 06 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AEOALOGAmerican Eagle OutfittersAnalogicBoston Beerbusiness inventoriesCanadian SolarCaseys General StoresCASYconsumer creditconsumer sentimentCSIQDiamond FoodsDicks Sporting GoodsDKSDMNDearnings expectationseconomic dataeconomic optimismfeaturedfederal budget balanceimport price indexinitial jobless claimsMTNNational SemiconductorNSMretail salesSAMtrade balanceunemployment rateUrban OutfittersURBNVail Resortswholesale tradeSun, 06 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Week in Preview: FedEx, Best Buy, Oracle and Lots of Economic Data]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/09/12/the-week-in-preview-fedex-best-buy-oracle-and-lots-of-economi/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/09/12/the-week-in-preview-fedex-best-buy-oracle-and-lots-of-economi/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/09/12/the-week-in-preview-fedex-best-buy-oracle-and-lots-of-economi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

earnings expectationsLast week, the Fed's Beige Book report confirmed that the economy continues to grow, but at a slower pace than in previous periods. This week will bring plenty of economic data to either support or contrast with the Fed's findings.

  • Monday: Federal government budget balance for August
  • Tuesday: Business inventory numbers from July, TIPP Economic Optimism Index for September, retail sales data from August
  • Wednesday: Industrial production in August, Empire State Manufacturing Survey for September, Import Price Index for August
  • Thursday: Producer Price Index for August, Philly Fed Survey for September, the Current Account Balance in the second quarter, jobless claims for last week
  • Friday: preliminary University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index, Consumer Price Index for August, real earnings data for August

Continue reading The Week in Preview: FedEx, Best Buy, Oracle and Lots of Economic Data

The Week in Preview: FedEx, Best Buy, Oracle and Lots of Economic Data originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 12 Sep 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analyst forecastsBBYBeige BookBest BuyBest Buy earningsbusiness inventoriesConsumer Price IndexConsumer Sentiment IndexCPIearnings expectationsearnings reportseconomic dataeconomic optimisimeconomic recoveryFDXfeaturedFedExFedEx earningsHPQImport Price Indexindustrial productionjobless claimsKRKrogerOracleOracle earningsORCLPhilly Fed SurveyPPIProducer Price IndexResearch In MotionRIMMWalmartWMTSun, 12 Sep 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Closing Bell: Markets Remain Muddled (C, GME, TM, POT)]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/03/12/closing-bell-markets-remain-muddled-c-gme-tm-pot/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/03/12/closing-bell-markets-remain-muddled-c-gme-tm-pot/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/03/12/closing-bell-markets-remain-muddled-c-gme-tm-pot/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Today was mixed on the economic front. Retail sales were actually positive rather than the expected drop of -0.2%. But then University of Michigan's Sentiment reading came out at 72.5, a reading about 2 points short of estimates. The January Business Inventories being flat in January had no real impact. The gap up this morning on the back of international markets came off and shares struggled between positive and negative territory all day. Yet one more day where the closing bell's direction was not known until the final minutes. Here were today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 10,624.69 +12.85 (0.12%)
S&P 500 1,149.99 -0.25 (-0.02%)
Nasdaq 2,367.66 -0.80 (-0.03%)

Top Analyst Calls

Continue reading Closing Bell: Markets Remain Muddled (C, GME, TM, POT)

Closing Bell: Markets Remain Muddled (C, GME, TM, POT) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business inventoriespanditUniversity of Michigan Surveys of ConsumersvideogamesFri, 12 Mar 2010 16:20:00 EST<![CDATA[The week in preview: The Beige Book and other mood gauges]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/07/the-week-in-preview-the-beige-book-and-other-mood-gauges/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/07/the-week-in-preview-the-beige-book-and-other-mood-gauges/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/07/the-week-in-preview-the-beige-book-and-other-mood-gauges/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Federal Reserve is scheduled to release its next Beige Book report of economic conditions on Wednesday, offering perhaps the best glimpse yet whether the recession has bottomed in the United States. The Beige Book report in March suggested that, by most measures, the economy was continuing to deteriorate and that prospects for near-term improvement was poor. But the April report showed that the deterioration was beginning to slow in some regions. Also, the TIPP Economic Optimism Index is scheduled to be released Tuesday, and the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index comes out Friday. So by the end of the week, we could have a good gauge of the mood over the U.S. economy.

Continue reading The week in preview: The Beige Book and other mood gauges

The week in preview: The Beige Book and other mood gauges originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 07 Jun 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Beige Bookbusiness inventoriesCIDMCinedigm Digital Cinemaconsumer sentimentDel MonteDLMearningseconomic optimismfeaturedFerrellgas PartnersFGPImport Price Indexjob vacanciesPiedmont Natural GasPNYtrade balancewholesale tradeSun, 07 Jun 2009 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[May U.S. business inventories increase 0.3%, below estimate]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/15/may-u-s-business-inventories-increase-0-3-below-estimate/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/15/may-u-s-business-inventories-increase-0-3-below-estimate/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/15/may-u-s-business-inventories-increase-0-3-below-estimate/#commentsFiled under: , ,

U.S. business inventories rose a lower-than-expected 0.3% in May, the U.S. Commerce Department announced Tuesday.

Economists surveyed by Bloomberg News had expected March 2008 inventories to rise 0.4%.

Further, inventories are now up 5.2% from May 2007, the Commerce Department said. The April business inventory statistic was revised higher to 0.5%.

Meanwhile, the inventory-to-sales ratio declined to 1.24. A year ago, the ratio was 1.26.

Economist David H. Wang told BloggingStocks Tuesday the May inventory data can be interpreted two ways, with with positive or negative dimensions, depending on how one views the current corporate stance toward the U.S. economy, and the prospects for economic growth in the quarters ahead.

On the one hand, businesses are keeping inventories at a bare minimum -- a fact that typically is bearish, short-term, for the U.S. economy, Wang said.

Continue reading May U.S. business inventories increase 0.3%, below estimate

May U.S. business inventories increase 0.3%, below estimate originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business inventoriesgdpinthenewsU.S. Commerce DepartmentU.S. economyTue, 15 Jul 2008 15:50:00 EST<![CDATA[U.S. business sales jump, outpace inventories in April]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/06/12/u-s-business-sales-jump-outpace-inventories-in-april/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/06/12/u-s-business-sales-jump-outpace-inventories-in-april/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/06/12/u-s-business-sales-jump-outpace-inventories-in-april/#commentsFiled under: ,

U.S. business sales increased 1.4% in April - - the fastest pace in five months - - outpacing inventory growth and leaving businesses with small inventory levels, the U.S. Commerce Department announced Thursday.

Sales have increased 6.8% since April 2007.

Meanwhile, inventories increased a modest 0.5% in April, above the 0.3% consensus estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. Inventories have increased 5.4% since April 2007.

Further, the April business inventory-to-sales ratio declined to 1.25, with the typical company now possessing about a 38-day supply of goods in storage/inventory rooms. A year ago, in April 2007 the inventory-to-sales ratio was 1.27.

Continue reading U.S. business sales jump, outpace inventories in April

U.S. business sales jump, outpace inventories in April originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business inventoriesgdpinthenewsmanufacturingsalesU.S. Commerce DepartmentU.S. economyThu, 12 Jun 2008 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[March U.S. business inventories rise at slowest pace in a year]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/05/13/march-u-s-business-inventories-rise-at-slowest-pace-in-a-year/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/05/13/march-u-s-business-inventories-rise-at-slowest-pace-in-a-year/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/05/13/march-u-s-business-inventories-rise-at-slowest-pace-in-a-year/#commentsFiled under: , ,

U.S. business inventories rose a scant 0.1% in March 2008 (pdf), the U.S. Commerce Department announced Tuesday -- the smallest inventory rise in a year.

Economists surveyed by Bloomberg News had expected March 2008 inventories to rise 0.5%.

Also, the March 2008 inventory-to-sales ratio declined to 1.27. Meanwhile, the February 2008 business inventory statistic was revised higher to an increase of 0.2%.

Inventories: Two-sided stat

Economist David H. Wang told BloggingStocks Tuesday the March 2008 inventory data can be interpreted two ways, with positive and negative dimensions.

On the one hand, businesses are keeping inventories at a bare minimum -- a fact that typically is bearish, short-term, for the U.S. economy, Wang said. "It can reflect a lack of business confidence in the economy's ability to grow in the short run," he said.

On the other hand, those same lean inventories mean that any sustained increase in demand will require businesses to ramp-up production quickly -- a phenomenon that generally limits the length of a recession / economic downturn, Wang said.

Another positive dimension to lean inventories: companies will not have to trim as many employees if the U.S. economy slows further. "In all, this month's inventory report contained a lukewarm stat," Wang said. "The best aspect of it is, businesses are prepared for a further downturn in the economy, should it occur."

March U.S. business inventories rise at slowest pace in a year originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 13 May 2008 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business inventoriesGDPinthenewsinventoriesU.S. Commerce DepartmentU.S. economyTue, 13 May 2008 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[February U.S. business inventories rise 0.6%, in-line with estimate]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/14/february-u-s-business-inventories-rise-0-6-in-line-with-estim/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/14/february-u-s-business-inventories-rise-0-6-in-line-with-estim/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/14/february-u-s-business-inventories-rise-0-6-in-line-with-estim/#commentsFiled under: , ,

U.S. business inventories increased 0.6% in February 2008 to $1.468 trillion, the U.S. Commerce Department announced Monday.

Economists surveyed by Bloomberg News had expected inventories to increase by 0.6% in February 2008.

Meanwhile, sales declined 1.1% in February 2008, the category's largest drop since January 2007.

Also, the inventory-to-sales ratio, an indicator of demand, increased to 1.28 in February 2008 from 1.26 in January 2008.

Economists, business executives, monetary officials and investors/traders monitor the inventories statistic because it can indicate business optimism and/or growing sales in the months ahead.

Further, the ratio of inventories-to-sales can help investors determine whether production demand will expand or contract in the near future -- a major factor in U.S. GDP growth.

Economic Analysis: A sub-par February 2008 business inventories report. The key statistic is the 1.28 inventory-to-sales ratio, which continues to increase. It's been rising since late 2007 -- and a sustained rise historically indicates, at minimum, economic sluggishness up ahead; at worst, a recession. For example, the ratio increased throughout 2001, prior to the start of the U.S.'s last recession. Conversely, it decreased throughout the ensuing, nearly 6-year economic expansion.

February U.S. business inventories rise 0.6%, in-line with estimate originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business inventoriesGDPinthenewssalesU.S. Commerce DepartmentU.S. economyMon, 14 Apr 2008 10:48:00 EST