Gary Siegel

The U.S. services sector expanded at a slower pace in February as the non-manufacturing index fell to 59.5 from 59.9 in January.

The University of Michigan's final February consumer sentiment index reading was 99.7, compared to the preliminary February 99.9 and the final January 95.7, according to market sources.

The New York economy is expanding, but February’s pace was much slower than January’s.

Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell seemed to counteract his earlier statement, which suggested the chance for four rate hikes in 2018.

According to the ISM's monthly report on business, the ISM index increased to 60.8 in February from 59.1 in January.

Pending home sales plunged 4.7% to an index reading of 104.6 in January, from a downwardly revised 109.8 in December.

The Chicago Business Barometer declined to 61.9 in February from 65.7 in January.

Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell’s testimony before Congress was perceived by some market participants as increasing the possibility of a tighter monetary policy.

Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell refused to comment on his views on the number of times the Federal Open Market Committee will raise rates this year, although he admitted his “outlook has strengthened since December.”

Texas service sector activity “continued to reflect expansion in February,” according to business executives responding to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas' Texas Service Sector Outlook Survey, as the revenue index increased to 13.2 from 12.8.

The consumer confidence index increased to 130.8 in February from a revised 124.3 last month, The Conference Board reported Tuesday.

Service sector companies “saw strong growth in February,” according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond service-sector activity survey, released Tuesday.

Manufacturing growth in the central Atlantic region was “robust” in February, according to the monthly business activity survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, as the manufacturing index soared to 28 from 14.

Texas factory activity, as measured by the production index, “expanded at a faster pace in February.”

The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for January decreased to 0.12 from a downwardly revised 0.14 in December.

Monetary policy targeting a federal funds rate between 1.25% and 1.5% is appropriate, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard said Monday.

With the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy report sticking to the policies professed in its latest post-meeting statement, markets will look to the question and answer sessions Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell will face from Congress next week.

Although large scale asset purchase programs may not be as effective as previously believed, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Eric Rosengren said Friday, “it is quite likely” that the programs will be needed in the future.

Having vacancies on the Federal Reserve Board makes it “more difficult,” Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic said Thursday.

Respondents to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's monthly manufacturing survey reported gains in input and selling prices, suggesting growing inflation.