US Data: Highlights of MNI Survey of Economic Forecasts

     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.    

Empire State Index for June (diffusion index)                           

 Friday, June 15 at 8:30 a.m. ET                         Actual:        

                 Median        Range                 Jun18  May18  Apr18

 Empire Index    19.1       18.0 to 20.1                --   20.1   15.8

     Comments: The Empire State index is expected to soften to a reading

of 19.1 in June after rising to 20.1 in May.                            

Industrial Production for May (percent change)                          

 Friday, June 15 at 9:15 a.m. ET                         Actual:        

              Median          Range                  May18  Apr18  Mar18

 Ind Prod     +0.2%       -0.6% to +0.5%                --  +0.7%  +0.7%

 Cap Util     78.0%       77.4% to 78.2%                --  78.0%  77.6%

     Comments: Industrial production is expected to grow 0.2% in May    

after gains in the previous three months. Factory payrolls rose by      

18,000 in May, while auto production jobs fell by 4,000 and the factory 

workweek fell to 40.8 hours from 41.0 hours in April. The ISM production

index rose to 61.5 in the current month from 57.2 in the previous month,

suggesting manufacturing production did not suffer from the slightly    

shorter workweek. Utilities production is expected to slow in the month 

after a weather-related gain in the previous month, but mining          

production could post another gain. Capacity utilization is forecast to 

stay at 78.0%, unchanged from April.                                    

University of Michigan Survey for June (preliminary)                    

 Friday, June 15 at 10:00 a.m. ET                         Actual:       

                Median        Range                  Jun18p May18  Apr18

 Consumer Sent  98.6       97.0 to 99.0                  --  98.0   98.8

     Comments: The Michigan Sentiment index is expected to rise modestly

to 98.6 in early-June after falling slightly to 98.0 in May.            

--MNI Washington Bureau; +1 202-372-2121; email: shikha.dave@marketnews.com

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