Economic indicators

The U.S. current account deficit widened to $124.8 billion in the third quarter from a revised $101.2 billion gap in the previous quarter.

November housing starts rose by 3.2% to a 1.256 million annual rate, according to data released Tuesday by the Commerce Department.

New York service sector activity “expanded slightly” in December, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Business Leaders Survey.

Builders’ confidence in the market for new single-family homes fell in December as affordability issues remain.

Business activity “continued to expand, though growth was noticeably slower than in recent months,” the December Empire State Manufacturing Survey suggested.

The value of business inventories in October was up 0.6% from September.

Total industrial production, which also includes mines and utilities, increased 0.6% after a 0.2% drop in October.

November retail sales were up 0.2% in the month, slightly above analysts’ projections for a 0.1% gain.

Jobless claims dropped to 206,000 in the week ended Dec. 8.

Overall CPI in November posted a flat reading as expected by analysts, but below the 0.3% gain expected by market participants.

Labor market “activity declined and momentum remained high in November,” as the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City Labor Market Conditions Indicators (LMCI) slid to 0.89 from 0.98 in October, the Bank said Tuesday.

Small business optimism slipped a bit in November, but remained at historically lofty levels, as the National Federation of Independent Business' Small Business Optimism index dipped to a reading of 104.8.

U.S. producer prices rose in November on advances in foods and transportation services, while a measure of underlying costs accelerated, offering some potential signs of inflation pressures bubbling up in the economy.

U.S. job openings rebounded in October, exceeding the number of unemployed workers by 1 million.

The Conference Board's Employment Trends Index fell to 110.41 in November from 110.73 in October.

October wholesale inventories increased by 0.8%, revised upward from the 0.7% increase reported in the advance estimate, while wholesale sales were down 0.2% in the month.

The University of Michigan's preliminary December consumer sentiment index reading was 97.5, compared to the final November 97.5.

U.S. payrolls and wages rose by less than forecast in November while the unemployment rate held at the lowest in almost five decades, indicating some moderation in a still-healthy labor market.

The value of new factory orders fell 2.1% in October, slightly lower than the 2.0% decrease expected by analysts.

The U.S. services sector expanded at a faster pace in November as the non-manufacturing index grew to 60.7 from 60.3 in October.