Import/Export Prices Continue to Decline.

Import and Export Prices (January 2015)

– Export Prices month/month -2.0%. Previous was -1.0%
– Export Prices year/year   -5.4%. Previous was -3.2%
– Import Prices month/month -2.8%. Previous was -1.9%
– Import Prices year/year   -8.0%. Previous was -5.5%

There are at least 2 stories here:  1) increased oil production lower crude prices 2) weakness in the EU lowered demand for US exports.

Consumer Sentiment (February 2015)

– Sentiment Index 93.6. Previous was 98.1.

This is The University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index.  It is a survey index and is supposed to forecast consumer spending in the next 90 days.