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.         

Leading Indicators for March (percent change)

 Thursday, April 18 at 10:00 a.m. ET                     Actual:

                 Median         Range                Mar19  Feb19  Jan19

 Leading Index   +0.4%     +0.1% to +0.6%               --  +0.2%   Flat

     Comments: The index of leading indicators is forecast to rise by 

0.4% in March after a 0.2% increase in February. Positive contributions 

are expected from lower jobless claims and rising stock prices, 

offsetting negative contributions from a decline in consumer 

expectations. 

Housing Starts for March (annual rate, million) 

 Friday, April 19 at 8:30 a.m. ET                         Actual:        

           Median            Range                   Mar19  Feb19  Jan19

 Starts    1.230m      1.160m to 1.270m                 -- 1.162m 1.273m 

     Comments: The pace of housing starts is expected to rise to a 1.230 

million pace in March after falling sharply in February. Unadjusted 

starts were down 9.4% from a year earlier in February, a further sign 

that home building has stagnated.

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

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