Gary Siegel

NEW YORK - The University of Michigan's preliminary April consumer sentiment index reading was 69.6, compared to the final March 67.5 reading, the preliminary March 68.2, and the final February 77.5, according to market sources.

WASHINGTON - Industrial production increased 0.8% in March while capacity use rose to 77.4%, the Federal Reserve reported Friday.

NEW YORK - The Empire State Manufacturing Survey showed “conditions for New York manufacturers improved at an accelerated pace in April,” the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported Friday, as the general business conditions index gained to 21.70 in the month from 17.50 in March, the Fed reported.

With the economy recovering, the Fed should consider implementing an explicit numerical objective for inflation, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia president and chief executive officer Charles Plosser said Thursday.

NEW YORK – With the economy recovering, the Fed should consider implementing an explicit numerical objective for inflation, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President and Chief Executive Officer Charles I. Plosser said today.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department today auctioned $13 billion of 29-year 10-month bonds with a 4 3/4% coupon at a 4.531% high yield, a price of 103.552179.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department said it will auction $14 billion four-year six-month inflation-indexed bonds on Thursday, April 21.

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

Continued economic improvement, viewed by some districts as “moderate,” but mostly “widespread,” was reported in the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book, which was released Wednesday.

NEW YORK – Continued economic improvement, viewed by some districts as “moderate,” but mostly “widespread” were reported in the Federal Reserve Beige Book, released Wednesday.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department auctioned $21 billion of 9-year 10-month notes with a 3 5/8% coupon at a 3.494% high yield, a price of 101.075834.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department today auctioned $32 billion of three-year notes with a 1-1/4% coupon at a 1.280% yield, a price of 99.911982.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department Tuesday auctioned $40 billion of four-week bills at a 0.025% high yield, a price of 99.998056.

Rising demand and disrupted supplies caused a spike in commodity prices over the past year, and it is unlikely that they will cause consumer inflation or derail the recovery, so it does not warrant any substantial shift in the stance of monetary policy, Federal Reserve Board vice chairwoman Janet Yellen told the Economic Club of New York Monday.

NEW YORK – Rising demand and disrupted supplies caused a spike in commodities prices over the past year, and it is unlikely that they will cause consumer inflation or derail the recovery, so it does not warrant any substantial shift in the stance of monetary policy,” Federal Reserve Board Vice Chair Janet L. Yellen told the Economic Club of New York Monday.

NEW YORK - Tender rates for the Treasury Department’s latest 91-day and 182-day discount bills were mixed, as the three-months incurred a 0.050% high rate, unchanged from 0.050% the prior week, and the six-months incurred a 0.110% high rate, down from 0.130% the week before.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department said Monday it will sell $40 billion of four-week discount bills Tuesday.

While praising the Federal Reserve for pulling America from the brink “when the panic of 2008 occurred,” Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas president and chief executive Richard W. Fisher Friday warned that there are costs to the Fed “overstaying its welcome” and suggested it consider cutting back its latest accommodation.

NEW YORK – While praising the Federal Reserve for pulling America from the brink “when the Panic of 2008 occurred,” Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President and CEO Richard W. Fisher Friday warned that there are costs to the Fed “overstaying its welcome” and suggested the Fed consider cutting back its latest accommodation.

Since food and energy prices have been quite volatile recently, this would be “an opportune time” for the Fed to announce “an explicit numerical inflation objective,” Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland president Sandra Pianalto said Thursday.