Gary Siegel

The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index was steady in March at a seasonally adjusted level of 92.2, as three of the four regional sectors slipped, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reported Monday.

The Midwest Economy Index improved to 0.82 in March from 0.61 in February, its highest level since March 1995, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, meaning growth was above its historical trend.

The seasonally adjusted Milwaukee Report on Business climbed to 52.87 in March from a downwardly revised 51.78 in March, originally reported as 52.78, according to the Institute for Supply Management-Milwaukee.

The University of Michigan’s final April consumer sentiment index reading was 76.4, compared to the preliminary April 75.8, the final March 76.2 and the preliminary March 74.3, according to market sources.

The University of Michigan's final April consumer sentiment index reading was 76.4, compared to preliminary April 75.8, the final March 76.2, and the preliminary March 74.3, according to market sources.

Manufacturing activity in the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s region “eased further in April, but activity remained expansionary and well above year-ago levels,” according to the bank’s monthly manufacturing survey, released Thursday.

The Chicago Fed national activity index for March fell to negative 0.29 from a revised positive 0.07 reading in February, while the three-month moving average, or CFNAI-MA3, declined to positive 0.05 in March from a revised positive 0.37 in February, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reported Thursday.

Pending home sales climbed 4.1% to an index reading of 101.4 in March after a revised 0.4% increase to 97.4 in February, according to a report released Thursday by the National Association of Realtors.

The Treasury Department auctioned $29 billion of seven-year notes, with a 1 1/4% coupon, a 1.347% high yield, a price of 99.354100.

The Treasury Department said Thursday it will auction $30 billion 91-day bills and $28 billion 182-day discount bills Monday.

The Treasury Department said it will auction $26 billion year bills on Tuesday, May 1.

Manufacturing activity in the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s region “eased further in April, but activity remained expansionary and well above year-ago levels,” according to the bank’s monthly manufacturing survey, released Thursday.

Pending home sales climbed 4.1% to an index reading of 101.4 in March after a revised 0.4% increase to 97.4 in February, according to a report released Thursday by the National Association of Realtors.

The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for March fell to negative 0.29 from a revised positive 0.07 reading in February, while the three-month moving average (CFNAI-MA3) declined to positive 0.05 in March from a revised positive 0.37 in February, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reported Thursday.

Most of the 17 Federal Reserve bank presidents and Federal Reserve Board members believe rates should and will stay near zero until 2014, with few expecting rates to rise before then, according to projected policy paths released by the Fed Wednesday.

The Federal Open Market Committee has been “bold and aggressive” and is “prepared to do more as needed,” Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke said Wednesday.

Most members of the Federal Open Market Committee believe rates should stay near zero until 2014, with few expecting rates to rise before then, according to projected policy paths released by the Fed Wednesday.

The Treasury Department auctioned $35 billion of five-year notes, with a 7/8% coupon, a 0.887% high yield, a price of 99.941438.

Service sector activity “flattened overall” in April, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s service-sector activity survey, released Tuesday.

Manufacturing activity in the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond region strengthened in April, according to the monthly business activity survey by the bank.