Economic indicators

The central bank's survey of loan officers said banks are easing their credit standards for commercial and industrial loans as competition heats up.

The Conference Board's Employment Trends Index (ETI) rose to 109.89 in July from a downwardly revised 108.72 in June.

The U.S. services sector expanded at a slower pace in July as the non-manufacturing index fell to 55.8 from 59.1 in June.

The U.S. trade deficit grew in June for the first time in four months as imports increased and the value of shipments overseas declined.

U.S. hiring cooled in July after more-robust gains than previously reported, while the unemployment rate slipped back below 4%.

New orders for manufactured goods increased 0.7% in June, after growing an unrevised 0.4% in May, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.

The New York economy surged in July, with current conditions nearly reaching future expectation levels.

Filings for U.S. unemployment benefits were little changed last week, hovering close to a five-decade low.

Construction spending fell by 1.1% in June, below the 0.2% gain expected.

The overall economy grew for the 111th straight time.

Private-sector employment increased by 219,000 in July, on a seasonally adjusted basis, ADP estimated Wednesday.

Texas service sector activity “accelerated in July,” according to business executives.

The consumer confidence index increased to 127.4 in July from a revised 127.1 last month.

The MNI Chicago Business Barometer rose to a six-month high of 65.5 in July.

The seasonally adjusted Milwaukee Report on Business increased to 61.66 in July from 60.18 in June.

Home prices rose 6.4% on an annual basis in May, not seasonally adjusted, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index, released Tuesday.

Personal income rose 0.4% in June following an unrevised 0.4% increase in May, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday.

U.S. employment costs accelerated in the second quarter from a year ago by the most in this expansion on faster growth in worker pay and benefits.

The June Midwest Economy Index slipped to 0.40 from an upwardly revised 0.58 in May.

Texas factory activity growth, as measured by the production index, suggested a “robust expansion.”