US Data: Highlights of Market Survey of Economic Forecasts

     WASHINGTON (MNI)  - 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.

Durable Goods Orders for March (percent change)

 Friday, April 24 at 8:30am ET                        

                                                            Actual        

                          Median                      Apr20  Feb20  Jan20     

New orders                -12.0%                         --  +1.2%  +0.1%    

Ex trans                   -6.3%                         --  -0.6%  +0.6%   

          Comments: The March durable goods report is expected to show new

orders

dropping by -12.0% following February's 1.2% uptick. This would constitute the

biggest drop since August 2014 when new orders fell by -18.4%. A decline in

aircraft should comprise more than half of decline, according to Credit Suisse,

as Boeing has reported a -282 drop in net orders. New orders excluding

transportation are expected to fall -6.3% after dropping -0.6% in February. This

would mark the largest m/m decline in new orders excluding transport since

January 2009 (-10.2%) during the global financial crisis.

     University of Michigan Survey of Consumers for April (final)

 Friday, April 24 at 10:00am ET                          Actual

                          Median                    Apr20(f) Mar20  Feb20    

Consumer Sent               68.0                         --   89.1  101.0 

Comments: The Michigan consumer sentiment index is expected to fall to 68.0

after a preliminary reading of 71.0. This would mark a 21.1 point drop from

March's 89.1 reading, the biggest drop ever recorded on the index and the lowest

reading since November 2011. Last month's 11.9 point fall in consumer sentiment

was the biggest drop since October 2008.

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

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