Gary Siegel

The nation needs to be aware of the possibility that inflation may creep up while monetary policy remains “very accommodative,” Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President and Chief Executive Officer Charles I. Plosser said Wednesday.

The Midwest economy index improved to positive 0.09 in December from a revised negative 0.13 in November, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the first time in five months growth was above its historical trend.

The consumer confidence index slid to 61.1 in January from an upwardly revised 64.8 last month, the Conference Board reported Tuesday.

The Chicago Purchasing Managers’ Business Barometer dipped to 60.2 in January from 62.2 in December, the National Association of Purchasing Management-Chicago said Tuesday.

The Treasury Department Tuesday auctioned $33 billion of four-week bills at a 0.050% high yield, a price of 99.996111.

Annual revisions to seasonal factors used in the monthly Institute for Supply Management Manufacturing Report On Business and Non-Manufacturing Report On Business lowered the latest manufacturing index number to 53.1 from 53.9 and raised the non-manufacturing index to 53.0 from 52.6, the ISM announced Tuesday.

The consumer confidence index slid to 61.1 in January from an upwardly revised 64.8 last month, The Conference Board reported Tuesday.

The Chicago Purchasing Managers’ Business Barometer dipped to 60.2 in January from 62.2 in December, the National Association of Purchasing Management-Chicago said Tuesday.

The Midwest Economy Index improved to positive 0.09 in December from a revised negative 0.13 in November, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the first positive reading in five months, meaning growth was above its historical trend.

The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index soared 1.7% in December to a seasonally adjusted level of 87.4, as all four regional sectors showed improvement, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reported Monday.

Texas manufacturing activity picked up in January, as measured by the production index, as the survey numbers include annual seasonal revisions, according to the monthly business-activity survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and released Monday.

The U.S. Treasury expects to borrow $444 billion in the first quarter of 2012, ending with a $30 billion cash balance, the department announced Monday.

Domestic banks said lending standards were little changed but demand rose in the past three months, according to the Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices, published by the Fed Monday.

Tender rates for the Treasury Department’s latest 91-day and 182-day discount bills were higher, as the three-months incurred a 0.050% high rate, up from 0. 040% the prior week, and the six-months incurred a 0.075% high rate, up from 0.070% the week before.

The Treasury Department said Monday it will sell $33 billion of four-week discount bills Tuesday.

Texas factory activity, as measured by the production index, picked up in January, as the survey numbers include annual seasonal revisionw, according to the monthly business activity survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, released Monday.

The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index soared 1.7% in December to a seasonally adjusted level of 87.4, as all four regional sectors showed improvement, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reported Monday.

The University of Michigan’s final January consumer sentiment index reading was 75.0, compared to the preliminary January 74.0 reading, the final December 69.9 and the preliminary December 67.7, according to market sources.

The economic strength seen at the end of 2011 was a result of temporary factors and the pace of growth seen in the last quarter of the year won’t carry into 2012, as growth will remain moderate, according to Federal Reserve Bank of New York president William C. Dudley.

The economic strength seen at the end of 2011 was a result of temporary factors and the pace of growth seen in the last quarter of the year won’t carry into 2012, as growth will remain moderate, according to Federal Reserve Bank of New York President and Chief Executive Officer William C. Dudley.