Economic indicators

A key measure of underlying U.S. inflation unexpectedly eased in February amid falling prices for autos and prescription drugs.

Consumers’ inflation expectations fell, according to the February Survey of Consumer Expectations, released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on Monday.

The value of business inventories in December was up 0.6% from November as expected.

The Conference Board's Employment Trends Index (ETI) climbed to 111.15 in February from a downwardly revised 109.34 in January.

U.S. retail sales stabilized in January after a plunge the prior month that was larger than first reported.

U.S. new-home construction rebounded by more than expected in January amid strength in single-family starts and a nine-month high for permits, signaling the market is stabilizing thanks to lower mortgage rates.

U.S. hiring was the weakest in more than a year while wage gains were the fastest of the expansion and the unemployment rate fell.

Consumer credit increased by $17.0 billion in January to $4.035 trillion.

The level of initial claims fell by 3,000 to 223,000 in the March 2 week, just below expectations for a 225,000 reading, data released Thursday showed.

Productivity gains in the U.S. last quarter exceeded forecasts though were little changed from the prior reading as output and hours worked both cooled.

The U.S. international trade gap widened to $59.8 billion in December from $50.3 billion.

Private-sector employment increased by 183,000 in February, on a seasonally adjusted basis, ADP estimated Wednesday.

Lower mortgage rates and more-affordable properties offered some relief for buyers.

The U.S. services sector expanded at a faster pace in February as the non-manufacturing index climbed to 59.7.

The composite of the Leading Economic Index was revised to an unchanged level in January.

U.S. construction spending posted the smallest annual increase since 2011 as homebuilding slowed amid higher borrowing costs and a glut of apartments in some areas.

New York economic conditions slipped in February, with current conditions falling to their lowest level since June.

The University of Michigan's final February consumer sentiment index reading was 93.8.

The overall economy grew for the 118th straight time, the Institute for Supply Management reported Friday.

Americans' incomes unexpectedly fell in January, the first decline in about three years, following a surge in the prior month that reflected special dividends and farm subsidies.