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.

     Nonfarm Payrolls for January(change in thousands) 

 Friday, February 7 at 8:30 a.m. ET                   

                                                           Actual: 

               Median                                 Jan20  Dec19  Nov19   

Payrolls         163k                                    --   145k   266k   

Private Jobs     150k                                    --   139k   254k   

Jobless Rate     3.5%                                    --   3.5%   3.5%   

Hrly Earnings    0.3%                                    --   0.1%   0.2%   

Avg Wkly Hrs     34.3                                    --   34.3   34.4   

     Comments: U.S. employment growth likely picked up in January to 163k from

December's 145k. Weekly initial jobless claims have fallen toward historic lows

and continue to show a robust labor market. However, excess labor supply is

shrinking as prime-age worker participation returns to pre-recession high and as

slowing labor force growth puts more downside pressure on jobs numbers. Still,

163,000 is comfortably above the "break-even pace" of around 100,000 and should

bolster the decline in the unemployment rate, which should continue at its

half-century low of 3.5%. Average hourly earnings is expected to rise by +0.3%,

accelerating from previous months. 

     Wholesale Trade for December(percent change) 

 Friday, Feb. 7 at 10:00 a.m. ET                          

                                                           Actual: 

               Median                                Dec19  Nov19  Oct19  

Sales           +0.1%                                   --  +1.5%  +0.1%  

     Comments: Wholesale sales for December are expected to increase by +0.1%,

which would make for the third-straight month of growth.

     Consumer Credit for December (dollar change, billions) 

 Friday, Feb. 7 at 3:00 p.m. ET                          

                                                           Actual: 

               Median                                Dec19  Nov19   Oct19  

Cons Cred     +$15.0b                                  -- +$12.5b +$18.9b    

     Comments: Consumer credit use is expected to rise by $15.0 billion in

December after a $12.5 billion gain in November.

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

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