Economic indicators

February durable goods orders data were in line with expectations for an aircraft-led decline, with the headline number falling by 1.6%.

The value of business inventories in January rose 0.8%, above the 0.4% gain expected by MNI and the 0.5% gain expected by the Bloomberg consensus.

Construction spending was up 1.0% in February, well above the 0.1% gain expected.

The overall economy grew for the 119th straight time.

U.S. retail sales unexpectedly eased in February on declines in grocery stores and building materials, which could potentially reflect cooler weather.

The University of Michigan's final sentiment index climbed to 98.4 from the prior month’s 93.8, according to a report Friday.

Sales of new U.S. homes rebounded to the best pace in almost a year and exceeded estimates in February.

he MNI Chicago Business Barometer softened in March to 58.7, bringingthe Q1 average to 60.0, its lowest quarterly reading in two years.

Personal income rose 0.2% in February while consumer spending inched up 0.1% in January.

Respondents to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's monthly manufacturing survey reported moderate acceleration of growth in March.