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 Bloomberg forecasts. The comment section presents the key elements

behind the median forecasts.

December New Home Sales (thousands & percent change)

 Monday, January 27 at 10:00 a.m. EST                         

                                                           Actual:

                    Median                           Dec19  Nov19  Oct19   

Sales:                 730                              --    719    710  

     Comments: December new home sales are expected to rise to 730,000, up 1.5%

from November's 719,000. 

December Durable Goods Orders (percent change)

 Tuesday, January 28 at 8:30 a.m. ET                           

                                                            Actual:        

                          Median                       Dec19  Nov19  Oct19

New orders                 +1.0%                          --  -2.1%  +0.2%

Ex trans                   +0.4%                          --  -0.1%  +0.2%  

     Comments: The December durable goods report is expected to show new orders

jumping +1.0%, up from November's -2.1% drop. A rebound in autos following the

end of the GM strike should offset the fall in orders for Boeing aircrafts.

Improved business sentiment following improved US-China trade relations should

also help non-defense capital goods (ex-aircraft) to climb for the third

straight month. Excluding transportation, orders are expected to rise 0.4%.

Conference Board Consumer Confidence (index)

 Tuesday, January 28 at 10:00 ET

                                                           Actual:

                                 Median               Jan20  Dec19  Nov19

Index                             128.0                  --  126.5  126.8

     Comments: The Conference Board consumer confidence index is expected to

rise to 128.0 in January from 126.5 in December.

January 25 Week Jobless Claims (thousands)

 Thursday, January 30 at 8:30 a.m. ET                  

                                                           Actual:        

                          Median                     Jan25  Jan18  Jan11

Initial Claims               213                        --    211    205

     Comments: Initial jobless claims are expected to rise a tad to 213,000 in

the week ended Jan. 25 from 211,000 the preview week. 

Q4 GDP (advance)

 Thursday, January 30 at 8:30 a.m. ET                        Actual:        

                          Median                        Q4(a)    Q3     Q2 

GDP                        +2.2%                           --  +2.1%  +2.0%     

Price Index                +1.8%                           --  +1.8%  +2.4%  

     Comments: The first estimate for fourth quarter GDP is expected to rise a

tenth to +2.2% compared to the third quarter. GDP growth this quarter could see

upside risks from improving international trade prospects alongside robust

consumption spending. However, investment may bring a slight drag to GDP growth,

though residential investment continues to be bolstered by lower interest rates.

The GDP price index is expected to remain steady at 1.8%."

December Personal Income(percent change)

 Friday, January 31 at 08:30 a.m. ET               

                                                             Actual:        

                          Median                         Dec19  Nov19  Oct19 

Personal income            +0.3%                            --  +0.5%  +0.1%

Current dollar PCE         +0.3%                            --  +0.4%  +0.3%    

Price index                +0.2%                            --  +0.2%  +0.2%    

Core PCE price index       +0.1%                            --  +0.1%  +0.1%    

     Comments: Personal income in December is expected to grow at a +0.3% pace,

slower than November's +0.5% rate. Current dollar personal consumption

expenditures is expected to grow +0.3%, also down slightly from November's +0.4%

rate. PCE headline inflation is expected to rise 0.2% for the third straight

month. Core PCE inflation is expected to remain unchanged at +0.1% for the fifth

straight month.

Q4 ECI (percent change)

 Friday, Jan. 31 at 8:30 a.m. EST                         

                                                      Actual:

                    Median                        Q4      Q3      Q2      

Index:               +0.7%                        --   +0.7%   +0.6%

     Comments: The Employment Cost index is expected to rise +0.7% in the fourth

quarter, unchanged from Q3. 

January MNI Chicago PMI (index)

 Friday, January 31 at 8:30 a.m. EST                         

                                                           Actual:

                    Median                            Jan19  Dec19  Nov19      

Index:                49.0                               --   48.9   46.3

     Comments: The MNI Chicago PMI for January is expected to tick upward

slightly to 49.0 from 48.9 in December.  

January Michigan Sentiment Index (final)

 Friday, January 31 at 10:00 a.m. EST                         

                                                            Actual:

                    Median                           Jan20f  Jan20p Dec19f      

Index:                99.1                               --    99.1   99.3

Comments: The January Michigan Consumer Sentiment index (final) is expected to

remain unchanged at 99.1. 

--MNI Washington Bureau; +86 (10) 8532-5998; email: ryan.hauser@marketnews.com

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