Low GDP Growth Delays Fed Rate Increases.

Initial Jobless Claims

– New Claims (seasonally adjusted) 283,000. Previous was 290,000
– New Claims unadjusted were 278,986,  a decrease of 45,213 (or -13.9%) from previous
– 4-week Moving Average    283,000. Previous was 289,750

 
Leading Indicators (January 2015)

 

– LEI (month/month) was +0.2%. Previous was +0.4%

Philadelphia Federal Reserve Survey (February 2015)

 

– General Business Conditions Index  5.2. Previous was 6.3.

Yesterday’s release of the minutes of last month’s FOMC meeting indicated that the Fed is in no rush to increase rates.  Why? Last GDP report indicated +2.64% annualized growth which is not enough to declare the economy healthy.