Happy Valentine’s Day

Import and Export Prices (January 2014)

– Export Prices Month/Month  +0.2%. Previous was +0.4%.

– Export Prices Year/Year -1.2%. Previous was -1.2%.

– Import Prices Month/Month  +0.1%. Previous was +0.1%

– Import Prices Year/Year -1.5%. Previous was -1.5%.

The Year/Year data could be indicating decreased world demand.

 Industrial Production (December 2013)

– Production Month/Month -0.3%.

– Capacity Utilization Rate  78.5%. Previous was 78.9%.

– Manufacturing Month/Month  -0.8%.  Previous was +0.3%.

I don’t know if any meaning can be squeezed from this data.  Parts of the country were severely impacted by winter weather.  That may have closed some manufacturing plants on some days but it also created a large demand for utilities to keep folks warm.