June Chicago Fed Nat'l Activity Index Improves to Negative 0.15

The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for June climbed to negative 0.15 from a revised negative 0.48 reading in May, while the three-month moving average (CFNAI-MA3) gained to negative 0.20 in June from a revised negative 0.38 in May, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reported Monday.

In June 2011, the index was negative 0.32, while the CFNAI-MA3 was negative 0.48 in that month.

The April index was originally reported as negative 0.45, while the April CFNAI-MA3 was first reported as negative 0.34.

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 narrowed to negative 0.08 from a revised negative 0.22 the month before, first reported as negative 0.20.

The production indicators contributed 0.13 in the month (compared to a subtraction of 0.27 in the previous month), while employment-related indicators were neutral in the month, after contributing 0.05 in May, the Fed said.

Consumption and housing-related data subtracted 0.23 in the month, after subtracting 0.26 the prior month, while sales, orders and subtracted 0.06 in the month, after a neutral May.

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 July 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, 40 of the 85 indicators made positive contributions to the index in the month and 45 made negative contributions. While 42 indicators were better than the previous month, 14 of these still made negative contributions to the index. Also, 43 indicators deteriorated from May to June.

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