US Data: Highlights of Market Survey of Economic Forecasts

Repeats Story Initially Transmitted at 21:06 GMT Apr 15/17:06 EST Apr 15

     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.

Initial Jobless Claims (millions)

 Thursday, April 16 at 8:30 am EST                        

                                                            Actual

                   Median                             Apr11  Apr04  Mar28       

Claims             5.462m                                -- 6.606m 6.867m      

Comments: U.S. initial unemployment claims filed through April 11 are expected

to climb to 5.462 million Thursday, slowing from last week's 6.6 million level

but still shattering records dating back to 1967. The Department of Labor said

in its latest weekly unemployment insurance report that the coronavirus was

beginning to have a "wider impact" and that states reported seeing an increasing

number of job losses in retail and wholesale trade and construction. Claims

should remain elevated in the coming weeks as states work through a backlog of

applications and non-essential businesses remain closed.

Housing Starts & Building Permits (millions)                   

 Thursday, April 16 at 8:30 am ET                           Actual

                         Median                      Mar20   Feb20   Jan20      

Starts                   1.300m                         --  1.599m  1.567m  

Permits                  1.300m                         --  1.452m  1.551m   

     Comments: March housing starts and building permits are expected to fall to

1.300m and 1.300m, respectively.

Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index (index)

 Thursday, April 16 at 8:30 am ET                           Actual        

               Median                                 Apr20  Mar20  Feb20    

Index           -32.0                                    --  -12.7   36.7      

     Comments: The Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index is expected to fall

sharply to -32.0 in April, reaching its lowest level since March 2009, during

the global financial crisis.

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

[TOPICS: MTABLE]