Gary Siegel

The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index climbed 0.1% in January to a seasonally adjusted level of 97.0, as two of the four regional sectors improved, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reported Monday.

The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for February surged to positive 0.44 from a revised negative 0.49 reading in January, while the three-month moving average (CFNAI-MA3) slid to positive 0.09 from a revised positive 0.28 in January, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reported Monday.

The Treasury Department sold $13 billion of inflation-indexed 9-year 10-month TIPs at a negative 0.602% yield, an adjusted price of 107.058044, with a 1/8% coupon.

The Treasury Department said it will auction $29 billion seven-year notes on Thursday, March 28.

The Treasury Department said it will auction $35 billion two-year notes on Tuesday, March 26, and $35 billion five-year notes on Wednesday, March 27.

The Treasury Department said Thursday it will auction $35 billion 91-day bills and $30 billion 182-day discount bills Monday.

The region's manufacturing sector expanded in March, as the general business conditions index rebounded to positive 2.0 from negative 12.5 in February, this month's Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Report on Business indicates.

The composite index of Leading Economic Indicators grew 0.5% in February following a revised 0.5% increase in January, first reported as a 0.2% gain, the Conference Board reported Thursday.

The Treasury Department Tuesday auctioned $45 billion of four-week bills at a 0.080% high yield, a price of 99.993778.

Tender rates for the Treasury Department's latest 91-day and 182-day discount bills were lower, as the three-months incurred a 0.085% high rate, down from 0.095% the prior week, and the six-months incurred a 0.110% high rate, off from 0.115% the week before.

The Treasury Department said Monday it will sell $45 billion of four-week discount bills Tuesday.

Builders' confidence in the market for new single-family homes slipped as the National Association of Home Builders' housing market index fell to 44 in March from 46 in February.

The University of Michigan's preliminary March consumer sentiment index reading was 71.8, compared to the final February 77.6, the preliminary February 76.3, and the final January 73.8, according to market sources.

The February consumer price index surged 0.7% after an unrevised flat reading in January, while the core rate rose 0.2% after an unrevised 0.3% gain in January, the Labor Department reported Friday.

The Empire State Manufacturing Survey showed "conditions for New York manufacturers continued to improve modestly," the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported Friday even as the general business conditions index slipped to 9.24 in March from 10.04 in February.

The Treasury Department Thursday auctioned $13 billion of 30-year bonds with a 3 1/8% coupon at a 3.248% high yield, a price of 97.653846.

The Treasury Department said it will auction $13 billion 9-year 10-month inflation-protected notes on Thursday, March 21.

The Treasury Department said Thursday it will auction $35 billion 91-day bills and $30 billion 182-day discount bills Monday.

The producer price index surged 0.7% in February on a seasonally adjusted basis, while the core rate, which excludes food and energy rose 0.2%, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

Initial jobless claims slid 10,000 to 332,000 in the week ended March 9, the Labor Department said Thursday.