Manufacturing Growing

ICSC-Goldman Store Sales (week ended 3/29/2014)

– Store Sales week/week  +3.6%. Previous was -1.5%

– Store Sales year/year  +0.6%. Previous was +1.7%

Redbook Store Sales (week ended 3/29/2014)

– Store Sales year/year +2.3%. Previous was +3.1%.

The movable nature of Easter (which is 3 weeks later this year than last year) affects this data.

The Consumer Metrics Institute Absolute Demand Index which measure online shopping has been remarkably flat since Late February.

PMI Manufacturing Index (March 2014)

– Index level 55.5. Previous was 57.1.

This is a survey index and it indicates manufacturing growing but at a slower pace.

ISM Manufacturing Index (March 2014)

– Index level   53.7. Previous was 53.2.

This is a survey index and it indicates manufacturing growing but at a quicker pace.

Construction Spending (February 2014)

– Construction Spending month/month +0.1%. Previous was -0.2%

– Construction Spending year/year +9.3%. Previous was +6.6%.

The downward revisions to January -0.3% for the month/month and -2.7% for the year/year make the data a bit difficult to interpret.