Economic indicators

U.S. job openings pulled back in February from a near-record in the previous month, as employers had some success in filling vacancies and became more reluctant to dismiss workers.

The University of Michigan's preliminary April consumer sentiment index reading was 97.8.

U.S. import prices were flat in March following gains in the previous seven months, as energy price declines were offset by gains in other categories.

Initial claims for U.S. state unemployment benefits fell by 9,000 to 233,000 in the April 7 week.

The federal government ran a $208.7 billion deficit in March, the Treasury Department reported Wednesday.

A measure of underlying U.S. inflation accelerated to the highest in a year as a drag from mobile-phone costs faded, bearing out the Federal Reserve's forecast for a pickup in price gains.

Wholesale inventories rose 1.0% in February, while wholesale sales rose 1.0% in the month.

Small business optimism retreated from its 35-year high in February, but remains among the highest in survey history, the National Federation of Independent Business said Tuesday.

Final demand PPI rose by 0.3% in March, well ahead of the 0.1% gain expected.

Consumers’ inflation expectations held steady, but respondents’ optimism about labor conditions and income slipped.

The Conference Board's Employment Trends Index (ETI) rose to 107.72 in March from a downwardly revised 107.31 in February.

Consumer credit increased by $10.6 billion in February to $3.868 trillion, the Federal Reserve reported Friday.

Nonfarm payrolls saw a much softer than expected gain of 103,000 in March versus the 195,000 expected.

Initial jobless claims rose by 24,000 to 242,000 in the March 31 week, well above the 225,000 level expected.

The U.S. international trade gap widened to $57.6 billion in February, a wider gap than the $56.7 billion deficit expected and the largest since October 2008.

About 4,819,700 online job postings appeared on leading internet job boards in March, an increase of 102,100 from February, the Conference Board reported Wednesday.

The value of new factory orders in February saw a 1.2% increase, a softer rise than the 1.7% increase expected.

The U.S. services sector expanded at a slower pace in March, while prices again grew.

Private-sector employment increased by 241,000 in March, on a seasonally adjusted basis, ADP estimated Wednesday.

The New York economy continues to expand at a slower pace, while prices continued creeping higher.