The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for August soared to positive 0.14 from a revised negative 0.43 reading in July, while the three-month moving average (CFNAI-MA3) improved to negative 0.18 from a revised negative 0.24 in July, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reported Monday.
In August 2012, the index was negative 0.95, while the CFNAI-MA3 was negative 0.51 in that month.
The July index was originally reported as negative 0.15, while the CFNAI-MA3 was first reported as negative 0.15.
The negative reading for the CFNAI-MA3 indicates national economic growth was below its historical trend, and suggests subdued inflationary pressure from economic activity in the coming year, the Chicago Fed said.
The CFNAI diffusion index rose to negative 0.10 from a revised negative 0.16 the month before, first reported as negative 0.02.
The production indicators contributed 0.22 in the month (compared to a subtraction of 0.20 in the previous month), while employment-related indicators added 0.02 in the month, after a 0.03 subtraction in July, the Fed said.
Consumption and housing-related data subtracted 0.17 in the month, after subtracting 0.18 the prior month, while sales, orders and inventories contributed 0.07 in the month, after subtracting 0.03 in July.
The index is a weighted average of 85 indicators of national economic activity. A zero value for the index indicates that the national economy is expanding at its historical trend rate of growth; negative values are associated with below-trend growth while positive values indicate above-trend growth.
The index was constructed using data available by September 19, with data for 51 of the 85 indicators having been published by then. The Fed said it used estimates for the missing data.
Overall, 48 of the 85 indicators made positive contributions to the index in the month and 37 made negative contributions. While 52 indicators were better than the previous month, 18 of these still made negative contributions to the index. Also, 33 deteriorated from July to August.
