US Data: Highlights of MNI Survey of Economic Forecasts

Repeats Story Initially Transmitted at 22:06 GMT Jan 17/17:06 EST Jan 17

     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.         

Industrial Production for December (percent change)

 Friday, January 18 at 9:15 a.m. ET                      Actual:        

              Median          Range                  Dec18  Nov18  Oct18

 Ind Prod      +0.1%     -0.5% to +0.4%                 --  +0.6%  -0.2% 

 Cap Util      78.4%     78.3% to 78.7%                 --  78.5%  78.1%  

     Comments: Industrial production is expected to rise by 0.1% in 

December after a 0.6% rise in November. Factory payrolls rose by 32,000 

in December, while auto production jobs rose by 2,000 and the factory 

workweek lengthened by 0.1 hours to 40.9 hours. However, the ISM 

production index fell to 54.3 in the current month from 60.6 in the 

previous month. Utilities production is expected to slip in the month 

after a 3.3% surge in November, while mining production is forecast to 

decline after a 1.7% gain, with low energy prices a key factor. Capacity 

utilization is forecast to decline to 78.4% from 78.5% in November. 

University of Michigan Survey for January (preliminary)          

 Friday, January 18 at 10:00 a.m. ET                     Actual:

                Median        Range                 Jan19p  Dec18  Nov18

 Consumer Sent    97.5    95.5 to 99.0                  --   98.3   97.5

     Comments: The Michigan Sentiment index is expected to hold fall to 

97.5 in early-January after rising to 98.3 in December. Financial market 

volatility and the Federal Government shutdown provide the wild cards in 

this month's data.

--MNI Washington Bureau; +1 (973) 494-2611; email: harrison.clarke@marketnews.com

[TOPICS: MTABLE]