Inflation (and just about everything else) Contained
Consumer Price Index (July 2014)
– CPI overall month/month +0.1%. Previous was +0.3%
– CPI overall year/year +2.0%. Previous was +2.1%
– CPI core (less food & energy) month/month +0.1%. Previous was +0.1%
– CPI core (less food & energy) year/year +1.9%. Previous was +1.9%.
Inflation remains contained as the Fed ponders when to start raising rates.
Housing Starts (July 2014)
– Housing Starts seasonally adjusted, annualized (in total units) 1,093,000. Previous was 945,000
– Permits seasonally adjusted, annualized (in total units) 1,052,000. Previous was 973,000.
This is an improvement to a previous number which was very low. To keep pace with population growth and keep constant the
number of people per household we should have 1,500,000 Starts per year.
ICSC-Goldman Store Sales (week ended 8/16/2014)
– Store Sales week/week -1.3%. Previous was -1.4%
– Store Sales year/year +3.8%. Previous was +3.2%.
Redbook Store Sales (week ended 8/16/2014)
– Store Sales year/year +3.7%. Previous was +4.8%.