Stronger US$ Will Hurt Exports.

ICSC-Goldman Store Sales (week ended 11/1/2014)

– Store Sales week/week  -1.6%. Previous was +0.3%
– Store Sales year/year +1.8%. Previous was +2.8%.

Redbook Store Sales (week ended 11/1/2014)

– Store Sales year/year +3.9%. Previous was +4.4%.

 

International Trade (September 2014)

– Trade Deficit $43.0 billion. Previous was $40.0 billion.

Exports were down 1.5% due to soft demand in the EU.  The strengthening dollar will make exports more expensive and add to the trade deficit.

 

Factory Orders  (September 2014)

– Factory Orders month/month -0.6%. Previous was -10.0%.

The August data reflected a large change in aircraft orders.