Economic indicators

Manufacturing growth in the central Atlantic region “strengthened in February,” according to the monthly business activity survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, as the manufacturing index climbed to positive 16 from negative 2.

U.S. new-home construction in December fell to the lowest since September 2016, as builders held back during a turbulent month for financial markets.

The region's services sector accelerated, as the general business conditions index rebounded to 10.0 in February from 1.0 in January.

Texas factory activity growth, as measured by the production index, “continued to expand in February,” but at a slower pace than in January.

December wholesale inventories increased by 1.1%, vs. a 0.1% rise expected by an MNI survey of analysts.

The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for January fell to negative 0.43 from a downwardly revised positive 0.05 in December.

Existing home sales were down 1.2% to a seasonally adjusted 4.94 million-unit rate in January.

The composite of the Leading Economic Index was off 0.1% in January following a revised flat reading in December, the Conference Board said Thursday.

Filings for U.S. unemployment benefits fell by more than expected to a four-week low, a sign the labor market is regaining its footing following the longest-ever government shutdown.

Orders placed with U.S. factories for business equipment unexpectedly fell in December for the fourth decline in five months.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Report on Business general business conditions index dropped to negative 4.1 from positive 17.0.

Builders’ confidence in the market for new single-family homes grew as the National Association of Home Builders' housing market index climbed to 62 in February from 58 in January.

New York service sector activity “grew at a fairly solid clip” in February, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Business Leaders Survey, released Tuesday.

The University of Michigan’s preliminary February sentiment index rose to 95.5.

Import prices were down 0.5% in January following a 1.0% decline in December, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Business activity grew modestly in New York State in February, the New York Federal Reserve said.

Total industrial production contracted 0.6% in January after a revised 0.1% rise that was also revised down.

The value of business inventories in November was down 0.1% from October vs a 0.2% gain expected by analysts.

The January producer price index data was weaker than expected, falling 0.1% overall. However, there was a 0.3% gain excluding food and energy.

Filings for U.S. unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose last week and remain elevated compared with recent trends, a sign of possible residual effects of the partial government shutdown.