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.

Empire Manufacturing Index for March (index)

 Monday, March 16 at 8:30 a.m. ET                        Actual:        

                     Median:                       Mar20  Feb20  Jan20    

Index                   5.0                           --   12.9    4.8    

     Comments: The Empire Manufacturing Index is expected to drop to 5.0, down

from February's 12.9.

February Retail Sales (percent change)

 Tuesday, March 17 at 8:30 a.m. ET                      Actual:                 

                  Median:                         Feb20  Jan20  Dec19   

Retail Sales       +0.2%                             --  +0.3%  +0.2%  

Retail ex mv       +0.2%                             --  +0.3%  +0.6%  

Retail ex mv+gas   +0.4%                             --  +0.4%  +0.5%   

     Comments: U.S. retail sales and retail sales excluding motor vehicles

likely slowed in February, with markets calling for a 0.2% gain following a

stronger 0.3% increase in January, for each category. Cheaper gas prices in

February should drive down gas station sales, but vehicle sales were

unseasonably strong last month, potentially boosting headline sales, an analyst

at Autotrader told MNI. Sales excluding motor vehicles and gas should rise 0.4%

in February according to market expectations, the same as January. The February

report is likely not an accurate barometer for the full impact of the

coronavirus pandemic, as U.S. public health officials continue to endorse social

distancing, encouraging consumers to avoid large public spaces like shopping

malls. 

Industrial Production for February (percent change)

 Tuesday, March 17 at 9:15 a.m. ET                            

                                                              Actual:        

                          Median:                       Feb20  Jan20  Dec19   

Industrial Production      +0.4%                           --  -0.3%  -0.4%   

Capacity Utilization       77.1%                           --  76.8%  77.0% 

Comments: Industrial production for February is expected to increase +0.4% after

declining for two straight months, while capacity utilization remains nearly

flat at 77.1%.

Business Inventories for January (percent change)

 Tuesday, March 17 at 10:00 a.m. ET                             Actual:

                 Median:                                 Jan20  Dec19  Nov19    

Inventories       -0.1%                                     --  +0.1%  -0.2%  

Comments: Business inventories for January are expected to decrease by -0.1%

after December's +0.1% uptick.

NAHB Home Builder Index for March (index)

 Tuesday, March 17 at 10:00 a.m. EST                       Actual:

                       Median:                          Mar20  Feb20  Jan20   

Index                      75                              --     74     75     

     Comments:  The National Home Builder Index is slated to climb slightly to

75, up slightly from February's reading of 74.

Housing Starts & Building Permits (millions)                   

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

                         Median:                      Feb20  Jan20   Dec19      

Starts                   1.500m                          -- 1.567m  1.626m  

Permits                  1.495m                          -- 1.551m  1.420m  

     Comments: Housing Starts and Building Permits are expected to fall slightly

to 1.500m and 1.495m, respectively.

Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index (index)

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

               Median:                                Mar20  Feb20  Jan20   

Index            10.0                                    --   36.7   17.0     

     Comments: The Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index is expected to fall

sharply to 10.0 in February, down from 36.7 in February, which was the highest

reading since February 2017.

Initial Jobless Claims (thousands)

 Thursday, March 19 at 8:30 a.m. EST                      Actual:

                   Median                        March14  March07  Feb29        

Claims               220k                             --     211k   215k        

Comments: Jobless claims are expected to climb to 220k, above the 4-week moving

average of 214k stated in the latest BLS report. So far, the jobless claims

report has not captured any detectable effect from the covid-19 pandemic or the

recent oil shock.

4th Quarter 2019 Current Account Balance (billions) 

 Thursday, March 19 at 8:30 a.m. ET                       Actual:        

                       Median                       4Q19    3Q19    Q219      

Balance               -$108.8b                       --  -$124.1b -$125.2b 

Comments: The current account balance for the fourth quarter of 2019 is expected

to move to -$108.8b, up from the third quarter's reading of -$124.1b.

February Existing Home Sales (millions)

 Friday, March 20 at 10:00 a.m. ET                      

                                                              Actual:        

                      Median:                           Feb20  Jan20  Dec19   

Existing Home Sales       --                               --  5.46m  5.53m 

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

[TOPICS: MTABLE,M$U$$$]