US Data: Highlights of Market Survey of Economic Forecasts

     WASHINGTON (MNI) - The following are highlights of forecasts for 

upcoming U.S. economic indicators provided by participants in the MNI 

weekly survey. The comment section presents the key elements behind the 

median forecasts. 

     September Factory Orders (percent change)                        

 Monday, November 4 at 10:00 a.m. ET                      Actual:        

               Median                                Sep19  Aug19  Jul19 

New Orders      -0.5                                  --    -0.1    1.4

Dur. Goods      -1.1                                  --    -1.1    0.2

          Comments: Factory orders are expected to have contracted further in

September, with new orders expected to turn in -0.5% from -0.1% in August, and

durable goods orders falling 1.1% for a second straight month. 

     September Trade Balance (billions)                      

 Tuesday, November 5th at 8:30 a.m. ET                    Actual:        

               Median                                Sep19  Aug19  Jul19

Balance         -52.5                                 --    -54.9  -54.0

          Comments: The U.S. trade balance is expected to contract to -$52.5 

billion from -$54.9 billion in August amid continued global trade tensions.

     October Non-Manufacturing ISM Index (index)                       

 Tuesday, November 5th at 10:00 a.m. ET                    Actual:        

               Median                               Oct19   Sep19  Aug19 

Index           53.4                                  --    52.6    53.7

          Comments: The October Non-Manufacturing ISM Index is slated to rise to

53.4 from 52.6. 

     Third Quarter Nonfarm Productivity (percent change)                      

Wednesday, November 6th at 8:30 a.m. ET                    Actual:        

               Median                                  Q319   Q219  Q119

Productivity    0.8                                     --     2.3   3.5

Labor Cost      2.2                                     --     2.6   5.5

          Comments:  The Q3 Nonfarm productivity change is expected to dip to 

0.8% from 2.3% in Q2, and labor costs follow suit to 2.2% from 2.6%. 

     September Consumer Credit (billions)                    

Friday, November 8th at 3:00 p.m. ET                       Actual:        

               Median                                  Sep19 Aug19 Jul19   

Cons. Cred      15.0                                    --   17.9   23.3

          Comments: Consumer credit growth is poised to dip to a $15 billion

rate in September from $17.9 a month earlier. 

     November 2 Jobless Claims (thousands)                     

Thursday, November 7th at 8:30 a.m. ET                    Actual:        

               Median                                 Nov2  Oct28 Oct19   

Claims          215                                    --    218   213

          Comments: This week's jobless claims are expected to return to the

four-week average of 215,000 after rising to 218,000 in the previous week. 

November Prelim. Michigan Sentiment (index)                   

Friday, November 8th at 10:00 a.m. ET                     Actual:        

               Median                                  Novp  Octf  Octp   

Index           96.0                                    --   95.5  93.2

          Comments: The preliminary Michigan Sentiment index is expected to 

rise by a half point to 96.0 from 95.5 last month.

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com

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