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 June (change in thousands)                         

 Friday, July 6 at 8:30 a.m. ET                          Actual:        

               Median         Range                  Jun 18 May18  Apr18

 Payrolls      +195k      +180k to +212k                 -- +223k  +159k

 Private Job   +189k      +180k to +210k                 -- +218k  +162k

 Jobless Rate   3.8%       3.7% to 3.8%                  --  3.8%   3.9%

 Hrly Earnings +0.3%      +0.2% to +0.3%                 -- +0.3%  +0.1%

 Avg Wkly Hrs   34.5       34.4 to 34.5                  --  34.5   34.5

     Comments: Nonfarm payrolls are forecast to rise by 195,000 in June 

after a stronger-than-expected 223,000 rise in May. The unemployment    

rate is expected to hold at 3.8% after falling further to the           

decades-low level in the previous month. Hourly earnings are forecast to

rise by 0.3% for the second month in a row, after the upside surprise   

last month, while the average workweek is expected to stay at 34.5 hours

for the fifth consecutive month.                                        

Trade in Goods and Services for May (deficit, billion $)                

 Friday, July 6 at 8:30 a.m. ET                          Actual:        

               Median         Range                May18   Apr18   Mar18

 Trade Gap     -$43.5b  -$44.0b to -$42.8b            -- -$46.2b -$47.2b

     Comments: The international trade gap is expected to narrow to     

$43.5 billion in May from $46.2 billion in April. The advance estimate  

of the Census goods trade gap narrowed to $64.8 billion, as export      

growth sharply outpaced import growth in the month.                     

--MNI Washington Bureau; +1 202-372-2121; email: shikha.dave@marketnews.com

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