US Data: Highlights of MNI Survey of Economic Forecasts

Repeats Story Initially Transmitted at 21:06 GMT Apr 6/17:06 EST Apr 6

     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.    

Producer Price Index for March (percent change)                         

 Tuesday, April 10 at 8:30 a.m. ET                       Actual:        

                 Median         Range                Mar18  Feb18  Jan18

 Final Demand    +0.1%       Flat to +0.2%              --  +0.2%  +0.4%

 Ex Food,Energy  +0.2%      +0.2% to +0.2%              --  +0.2%  +0.4%

     Comments: Final demand PPI is expected to rise 0.1% in March after 

a 0.2% gain in February. Energy prices are expected to exert a small    

contribution after a dip in February,  while food prices are expected to

drag again after 0.4% decline. Excluding food and energy prices, PPI is 

forecast to rise 0.2X% after an as-expected 0.2% increase in the        

previous month.                                                         

Consumer Price Index for March (percent change)                         

 Wednesday, April 11 at 8:30 a.m. ET                     Actual:        

              Median         Range                   Mar18  Feb18  Jan18

 CPI          Flat       -0.1% to +0.1%                 --  +0.2%  +0.5%

 CPI Core     +0.2%      +0.1% to +0.2%                 --  +0.2%  +0.3%

     Comments: The CPI is expected to come in flat in March following an

as-expected 0.2% rise in February. A decline in March 2017 due to       

falling cell phone prices may lead to a rise in the year/year rate for  

both overall and core CPI. For March, AAA reported a decrease in        

mid-month prices from February, which could hold back gasoline prices in

the CPI data. The core CPI is forecast to rise 0.2% following an        

unsurprising 0.2% increase in February.                                 

Treasury Statement for March ($ billions)                               

 Wednesday, April 11 at 2:00 p.m ET                      Actual:        

             Median           Range              Mar18    Feb18    Mar17

 Balance     -$187.0b  -$187.0b to -$187.0b         -- -$215.2b -$176.2b

     Comments: The US Treasury is expected to post a $187.0 billion     

deficit in March, wider than the $176.2 billion deficit posted in March 

2017. There are calendar issues with both March 2017 and March 2018, as 

April 1 transfer payments were shifted into March, boosting outlays.    

Weekly Jobless Claims for April 7 week                                  

 Thursday, April 12 at 8:30 a.m. ET                       Actual:       

                 Median         Range                  Apr7  Mar31 Mar24

 Weekly Claims   230k        229k to 230k               --   242k   218k

     The level of initial jobless claims is expected to fall by 12,000  

to 230,000 in the April 7 week after a 24,000 increase in the previous  

week. The four-week moving average would rise by 1,000 in the coming    

week, as the 226,000 level in the March 10 week drops out of the        

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

revisions.                                                              

University of Michigan Survey for April (preliminary)                   

 Friday, April 13 at 10:00 a.m. ET                       Actual:        

                Median           Range              Apr18p  Mar18  Feb18

 Consumer Sent  100.2         98.0 to 101.4             --  101.4   99.7

     Comments: The University of Michigan Sentiment index is expected to

be down to 100.2 in early-April from 101.4 in March.                            

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