US Data: Highlights of MNI Survey of Economic Forecasts

Repeats Story Initially Transmitted at 20:06 GMT Nov 8/15:06 EST Nov 8

     WASHINGTON (MNI) - The following are highlights of forecasts for   

upcoming U.S. economic indicators provided by participants in the MNI   

weekly survey. The comment section presents the key elements behind the 

median forecasts.       

Weekly Jobless Claims for November 4 week                               

 Thursday, November 9 at 8:30 a.m. ET                    Actual:        

                  Median         Range               Nov04  Oct28  Oct21

 Weekly Claims      230k      229k to 235k              --   229k   234k

     Comments: The level of initial jobless claims is expected to rise  

by 1,000 to 230,000 in the November 4 week after a 5,000 decrease in the

previous week. The four-week moving average would fall by 3,500 in the  

coming week as the 244,000 level in the October 7 week drops out of the 

calculation, assuming the MNI forecast is correct and there are no      

revisions. As the average was already at a 44-year low in the previous  

week, another decline would be significant.                             

University of Michigan Survey for November (preliminary)                

 Friday, November 10 at 10:00 a.m. ET                     Actual:       

                Median           Range              Nov17p  Oct17  Sep17

 Consumer Sent   100.7       94.0 to 102.0              --  100.7   95.1

     Comments: The University of Michigan index is expected to hold     

steady at 100.7 in early November after surging to that point in        

October.                                                                

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