Durables Show month/month Improvement.

Initial Jobless Claims (week ended 8/20/2016)

– New Claims seasonally adjusted 261,000. Previous was 262,000
– New Claims unadjusted, totaled 216,594 a decrease of 2,929 from previous
– 4-week Moving Average 264,000. Previous was 265,250

 

Durable Goods Orders (July 2016)

– New Orders month/month +4.4%. Previous was -4.2%
– New Orders year/year -3.3%. Previous was -6.6%
– Ex-transportation month/month % +1.5%. Previous was -0.3%
– Ex-transportation year/year -0.6%. Previous was -3.4%
– Core capital goods month/month +1.6%. Previous was +0.5%
– Core capital goods month/month -4.9%. Previous was -3.5%

While the July data is improved the details are mixed and the fact is that the manufacturing sector is still soft.

Kansas City Federal Reserve Manufacturing Index (August 2016)
– Level -4. Previous was -6.