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. The comment section presents the

key elements behind the median forecasts.

Retail Sales (percent change)

 Friday, May 15 at 8:30am (ET)                     

                                                     Actual                     

                  Median                       Apr20  Mar20  Feb20     

Retail Sales      -11.0%                          --  -8.4%  -0.4%   

Retail ex mv       -8.5%                          --  -4.5%  -0.4%    

Retail ex mv+gas   -7.6%                          --  -2.8%  -0.2%     

     Comments: U.S. retail sales likely fell sharply in April, with preliminary

estimates seeing a -11.9% drop following a -8.4% decrease in March that was the

largest decline on record. Many retailers were closed through April and falling

gas prices will keep monthly gas station sales low, holding down headlines

sales. Excluding motor vehicle and gas station sales, retail sales should fall

-7.6%.

Empire Manufacturing Index (index)

 Friday, May 15 at 8:30 am ET                          Actual        

                     Median                      May20  Apr20  Mar20      

Index                 -60.0                         --  -78.2  -21.5      

     Comments: The Empire Manufacturing Index is expected to retreat to -60.0,

up from -78.2, the lowest reading ever recorded on the index.

Industrial Production (percent change)

 Friday, May 15 at 9:15am (ET)                         

                                                            Actual        

                          Median                      Apr20  Mar20  Feb20    

Industrial Production     -12.0%                         --  -5.4%  +0.5%   

Capacity Utilization       63.8%                         --  72.7%  77.0%  

Comments: Industrial production for March is expected to fall -12.0%, the

biggest m/m drop since July 2009 when it fell -13.9%. Capacity utilization is

expected to decline to 63.8%, which would mark the lowest reading in the history

of the measure.

University of Michigan Survey of Consumers (preliminary)

 Friday, May 15 at 10:00am (ET)                                

                                                               Actual

                          Median                         May(p) Apr20  Mar20    

Consumer Sent               68.0                            --   71.8   89.1 

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

April's 71.8 reading. The fall in consumer sentiment would mark the lowest

reading since November 2011, when the index registered at 63.7.

Business Inventories (percent change)

 Friday, May 15 at 10:00am (ET)                             Actual

                 Median:                              Mar20  Feb20  Jan20     

Inventories       -0.2%                                  --  -0.4%  -0.3%   

Comments: Business inventories for March are expected to decrease by -0.2% after

February's -0.4% drop, marking the fifth straight month of declining or flat

growth.

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

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