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.         

Nonfarm Payrolls for May (change in thousands)                     

 Friday, June 7 at 8:30 a.m. ET                           Actual:        

               Median         Range                  May19  Apr19  Mar19

 Payrolls       185k      145k to 208k                  --  +263k  +189k

 Private Jobs   175k      155k to 198k                  --  +236k  +179k

 Jobless Rate   3.6%      3.6% to 3.8%                  --   3.6%   3.8%

 Hrly Earnings  0.3%      0.2% to 0.3%                  --  +0.2%  +0.2%

 Avg Wkly Hrs   34.5      34.4 to 34.5                  --   34.4   34.5

     Comments: Nonfarm payrolls are forecast to rise by 185,000 in May 

after a stronger-than-expected 263,000 rise in April. The unemployment 

rate is expected to remain at a 50-year low 3.6% in the previous month 

on a shrinkage in the labor force. Hourly earnings are forecast to 

increase by 0.3%, while the average workweek is expected to rise to 34.5 

hours after falling to 34.4 hours in April. 

Consumer Credit for April (dollar change, billions)                   

 Friday, June 7 at 3:00 p.m. ET                          Actual:        

              Median        Range                  Apr19   Mar19   Feb19

 Cons Cred   +$13.8b +$13.0b to +$14.5b               -- +$10.3b +$15.5b

     Comments: Consumer credit use is expected to rise by $13.8 billion 

in April after a smaller $10.3 billion gain in March. Retail sales 

declined in the month on both a sharp decline in auto sales and soft 

readings in other categories outside of gasoline station sales.

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

[TOPICS: MTABLE,M$U$$$]