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.  

Weekly Jobless Claims for January 13 week                               

 Thursday, January 18 at 8:30 a.m. ET                     Actual:       

                 Median         Range                Jan14  Jan06  Dec30

 Weekly Claims     250k      245k to 265k                --  261k   250k

     Comments: The level of initial jobless claims is expected to fall  

by 11,000 to 250,000 in the January 13 employment survey week, reversing

the 11,000 gain in the previous week, which marked a third straight     

increase. Claims were at level of 245,000 in December 16 employment     

survey week. The four-week moving average would rise by 1,250 in the    

coming week, as the 245,000 level in the December 16 week drops out of  

the calculation, assuming the MNI forecast is correct and there are no  

revisions.                                                              

Housing Starts for December (annual rate, million)                      

 Thursday, January 18 at 8:30 a.m. ET                    Actual:        

           Median            Range                   Dec17  Nov17  Oct17

 Starts    1.275m       1.230m to 1.318m                -- 1.297m 1.256m

     Comments: The seasonally adjusted pace of housing starts is        

expected to slow to a 1.275 million annual rate in December after       

another sharp increase in November. The NAHB index rose sharply in      

December, a positive for the housing starts data to remain on a         

generally upward trend.                                                 

Philadelphia Federal Reserve Index for January (diffusion index)        

 Thursday, January 18 at 8:30 a.m. ET                    Actual:        

             Median         Range                    Jan18  Dec17  Nov17

 Phila Fed     25.0     23.0 to 31.8                    --   27.9   24.3

     Comments: The Philadelphia Fed reading is forecast to dip to a     

reading of 25.0 after rising to a revised 27.9 in the previous month.   

University of Michigan Survey for January (preliminary)                 

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

                Median           Range              Jan18p  Dec17  Nov17

 Consumer Sent    97.0       94.0 to 98.5            --   95.9   98.5   

     Comments: The Michigan Sentiment index is expected to partially    

rebound to a reading of 97.0 in early-January from 95.9 in December.    

--MNI Washington Bureau; +1 202-371-2121; email: holly.stokes@marketnews.com

[TOPICS: M$U$$$]