Manufacturing Slows. Home Builders Optimistic.

Industrial Production (May 2014)

– Production month/month  -0.2%. Previous was -0.5%
– Capacity Utilization Rate 78.1% Previous was 78.3%
– Manufacturing month/month -0.2% Previous was +0.1%

Slowing manufacturing is not good for the economy.  On a longer time scale I do not believe that we have faced the likelihood that, in the future, as manufacturing picks up in terms of increased production there will not be any significant increase in manufacturing jobs.  A manufacturing revolution will happen.  Policy in the U.S. geared to linking increases in manufacturing to increases in jobs will only mean that the manufacturing revolution will take place elsewhere.

 
Housing Market Index (June 2015)

– Housing Market Index  59. Previous was 54.

This is from a survey by The National Association of Home Builders.  It should be a leading indicator of Housing Starts.