Gary Siegel

Texas factory activity, as measured by the production index, "activity increased again in November," according to the monthly Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, released Monday.

Manufacturing activity in the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's region "expanded slightly" in November, according to the bank's monthly manufacturing survey, released Friday.

The composite index of Leading Economic Indicators was up 0.1% in October following an unrevised 0.2% increase in September, the Conference Board reported Friday.

In order to prevent the economy from overheating, the federal funds rate target must be raised slowly, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City President Esther George said Friday in explaining why she has pushed for a 25 basis point increase.

The Federal Open Market Committee appears on track for a December rate hike, Federal Reserve Board Chair Janet Yellen suggested on Thursday.

The region's manufacturing sector expanded in November, although the general business conditions index declined to 7.6 from 12.8 in October, this month's Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Report on Business indicates.

Gradual increases in the fed funds rate remain appropriate as the neutral rate stays at a low level by historical standards, Federal Reserve Board Chair Janet Yellen testified Thursday.

Builders' confidence in the market for new single-family homes was flat as the National Association of Home Builders' housing market index held at 63 in November from an unrevised 63 in October.

Industrial production was unchanged in October, the Federal Reserve reported Wednesday.

The U.S. October producer price index was a weaker than expected, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics Wednesday reported the final demand PPI was flat, while the core rate fell 0.2%.

The New York region's service sector activity "declined for a fourth consecutive month," according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's November Business Leaders Survey, released Wednesday.

The Empire State Manufacturing Survey showed "business activity stabilized in New York State," the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported Tuesday, as the general business conditions index reversed to positive 1.5 in November from negative 6.8 in October.

Without "significant negative economic news" before then, the Federal Open Market Committee is on track for a December rate hike, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Eric Rosengren said Tuesday.

Consumer expectations were little changed in October, according to the Survey of Consumer Expectations, released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on Monday.

The University of Michigan's preliminary November consumer sentiment index reading was 91.6, compared to the final October 87.2 and the preliminary October 87.9, according to market sources.

The dual mandate has nearly been achieved and while there is a "quite strong" case for increasing the fed funds rate, the future is uncertain and there is no "preset" plan for monetary policy, Federal Reserve Vice Chair Stanley Fischer said Friday.

Labor market conditions "increased modestly and momentum remained high in October," as the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City Labor Market Conditions Indicators (LMCI) gained to 0.12 in October from a revised 0.08 in September, first reported as 0.11, according to the Bank.

The largest proposition on ballots, a $9 billion California statewide measure that provides school districts, community college districts and charter schools with matching state funds for school construction, appears to have been approved, while Golden State voters were nearly split on the proposal to require a vote if the state wants to issue more than $2 billion of revenue bonds.

Consumer credit increased by $19.3 billion in September to $3.687 trillion, the Federal Reserve reported Monday.

Standards for commercial and industrial loans were "basically unchanged" in the third quarter of 2016, while standards for commercial real estate loans were tightened, according to the Fed's senior loan officer opinion survey, released Monday.