US Data: Highlights of MNI Survey of Economic Forecasts

Repeats Story Initially Transmitted at 22:06 GMT Feb 28/17:06 EST Feb 28

     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.         

Personal Income for January (percent change)                          

 Friday, March 1 at 8:30 a.m. ET                         Actual:        

               Median         Range                  Jan19  Dec18  Nov18

 Income         +0.3%    +0.2% to +0.6%                 --     --  +0.2% 

 Spending (Dec) -0.1%    -0.6% to +0.3%                 --     --  +0.4%

 Core Prices(Dec) +0.2%  +0.1% to +0.2%                 --     --  +0.1%

     Comments: Personal income is expected to rise by 0.3% in January, 

reflecting a spike in employment, steady hours worked, and a small gain 

in hourly earnings. The backlogged December personal income is expected 

to rise by 0.2%. Only December PCE data will be reported due to a lack 

of Census data and it is expected to decline by 0.1% reflecting the 

retail sales plunge. Core prices are seen up 0.2%. 

ISM Manufacturing Index for February                                       

 Friday, March 1 at 10:00 a.m. ET                        Actual:

               Median         Range                  Feb19  Jan19  Dec18

 Mfg ISM         55.5     53.0 to 57.5                  --   56.6   54.3

     Comments: The ISM manufacturing index is expected to fall back to a 

reading of 55.5 in February after sharp movements in the previous two 

months. Regional conditions data have suggested a mixed picture. 

Domestic Motor Vehicle Sales for February (mln units, saar)                  

 Friday, March 1                                         Actual:        

               Median         Range                  Feb19  Jan19  Dec18

 Sales Ex GM,Ford                                       --   7.1m   7.6m

     Comments: The SAAR for domestic-made vehicle sales excluding GM and 

Ford is expected to rebound modestly in February after a dip in January. 

Seasonal factors will be a smaller addition to unadjusted claims than 

they were in the previous month, but the end of the government shutdown 

should allow furloughed government employees to make purchases that they 

delayed in January. 

University of Michigan Survey for February (final)          

 Friday, March 1 at 10:00 a.m. ET                        Actual:

                Median        Range                 Feb19f Feb19p  Jan19

 Consumer Sent    95.8    93.0 to 96.6                  --   95.5   91.2

     Comments: The Michigan Sentiment index is expected to rise to a 

reading of 95.8 in February from the 95.5 preliminary estimate. This 

would keep the index well above the 91.2 reading in January.

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

[TOPICS: MTABLE]