US Data: Highlights of Market Survey of Economic Forecasts

     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.

     Empire Manufacturing Index (index)

 Tuesday, February 18 at 8:30 a.m. ET                        Actual:        

                     Median:                           Feb20  Jan20  Dec19  

Index                   5.0                               --    4.8    3.5    

     Comments: The Empire Manufacturing Index is expected to show a stabilizing

manufacturing sector for the region, up slightly to 5.0 from 4.8 in what would

be the eighth straight month of growth.

NAHB Home Builder Index (index)

 Tuesday, February 18 at 10:00 a.m. EST                       Actual:

                       Median:                          Feb20  Jan20  Dec19  

Index                      75                              --     75     76     

     Comments:  The National Home Builder Index is slated to stay unchanged at

75 despite the increased need for affordable homes.

Housing Starts & Building Permits (millions)                   

 Wednesday, February 19 at 8:30 a.m. ET                        Actual:

                         Median:                        Jan20   Dec19   Nov19   

Starts                   1.400m                            --  1.608m  1.365m   

Permits                  1.450m                            --  1.416m  1.482m   

     Comments: Housing Starts & Building Permits are expected to remain

relatively steady at 1.400m and 1.450m, respectively.

     Producer Price Index for January (percent change) 

 Wednesday, February 19 at 8:30 a.m. ET                       Actual:

                  Median:                               Jan20  Dec19  Nov19  

PPI                +0.1%                                   --  +0.1%   flat  

Core PPI           +0.2%                                   --  +0.1%   0.2%  

Core PPI ex trade  +0.1%                                   --  +0.1%   flat  

     Comments: PPI and Core PPI excluding trade are both expected to increase by

+0.1%, the same rate of increase as in December. Core PPI is expected to pick up

slightly to +0.2%, up from +0.1% in December.

     Initial Jobless Claims (thousands)

 Thursday, February 20 at 8:30 a.m. EST                        

                                                         Actual:

                   Median:                         Feb15  Feb08  Feb01       

Claims:              212k                             --   205k   202k     

Comments: Jobless claims for the week ending February 15 are expected to come in

at 212,000, equivalent to the four-week moving average identified by the

Department of Labor in its most recent jobless claims report.

     Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index (index)

 Thursday, February 20 at 8:30 a.m. ET                        Actual:        

               Median:                                Feb20  Jan20  Dec19  

Index            10.0                                    --   17.0    2.4   

     Comments: The Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index is expected to fall to

10.0 in February, down from an eight-month high in January of 17.0. 

January Conference Board Leading Economic Index(percent change)

 Thursday, February 20 at 10:00 a.m. ET                       Actual:        

                          Median:                       Jan20  Dec19  Nov19 

Indicators                 +0.4%                           --  -0.3%   flat    

     Comments: The Leading Economic Index is expected to climb +0.4% after

dropping -0.3% in December.

January Existing Home Sales (millions)

 Friday, February 21 at 10:00 a.m. ET                      

                                                             Actual:        

                      Median:                          Feb20 Jan20  Dec19   

Existing Home Sales    5.48m                             --   5.54   5.35 

     Comments: January existing home sales are anticipated to fall slightly to

5.48m, down from 5.54m in January. 

--MNI Washington Bureau; +1 202 371 2121; email: ryan.hauser@marketnews.com

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