Last Week’s Headlines

• The initial estimate for the first-quarter gross domestic product showed economic growth slowed compared to the fourth quarter. The GDP increased at an annual rate of 0.7% in the first quarter. In the fourth quarter of 2016, the GDP increased at an annual rate of 2.1%. While the first estimate is based on source data that is incomplete or subject to further revision, this quarter’s growth rate is the slowest in three years. Weakened consumer spending cut into economic growth in the first quarter. Consumer spending increased a mere 0.3%, which is the worst showing since the end of 2009. Consumers spent less on high-cost items such as cars, and home heating during a mild winter. Conversely, residential investment grew at a 13.7% pace and nonresidential (business) investment, which has been sluggish, climbed 9.4%. Rising inflation may be cutting into consumers’ paychecks, prompting them to hold off on buying nonessential big-ticket items.

• New home sales continued to surge in March, according to the latest figures from the Census Bureau. Sales of new single-family homes in March were 5.8% higher than the revised February sales figures. The sales rate is 15.6% above the March 2016 estimate. The median sales price of new houses sold in March 2017 was $315,100. The average sales price was $388,200. The seasonally-adjusted estimate of new houses for sale at the end of March was 268,000. This represents a supply of 5.2 months at the current sales rate.

• New orders for manufactured durable goods in March increased $1.6 billion, or 0.7%, to $238.7 billion, according to the Census Bureau. This increase, up three consecutive months, followed a 2.3% February increase. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.2% — the first decline in six months. Excluding defense, new orders increased 0.1%. Transportation equipment, also up three consecutive months, drove the increase, climbing $2.0 billion, or 2.4%, to $83.3 billion. On the other hand, orders for automobiles and machinery slowed. Shipments of manufactured durable goods in March, up four of the last five months, increased $0.6 billion, or 0.2%, to $239.8 billion. Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in March, up two consecutive months, increased $2.5 billion, or 0.2%, to $1,119.0 billion. Inventories of manufactured durable goods in March, up four of the last five months, increased $0.5 billion, or 0.1%, to $385.7 billion.

• The international trade deficit was $64.8 billion, an increase of $0.9 billion in March from the prior month. Exports of goods were $125.5 billion, $2.2 billion less than February exports. Imports were $190.3 billion, $1.4 billion less than the previous month.

• Consumer confidence in the economy took a step back in April following an increase in March. The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® registered 120.3 in April, down from 124.9 in March. The Present Situation Index decreased from 143.9 to 140.6 and the Expectations Index declined from 112.3 last month to 106.7. The Index of Consumer Sentiment from the University of Michigan inched up in April to 98.0 from 96.9 in March. Consumers were bullish about current economic conditions and expectations for further economic growth.

• In the week ended April 22, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 257,000, an increase of 14,000 from the previous week’s revised level of 243,000. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate remained at 1.4% for the second consecutive week. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ended April 15 was 1,988,000, an increase of 10,000 from the prior week’s revised level of 1,978,000.

Eye on the Week Ahead

The all-important employment figures for April are out at the end of the week. March saw new hires for the month drop to under 100,000 for the first time in a long time. However, the unemployment rate fell to 4.5% while average hourly earnings continue to rise — all of which points to an expanding economy.

Data sources: News items are based on reports from multiple commonly available international news sources (i.e. wire services) and are independently verified when necessary with secondary sources such as government agencies, corporate press releases, or trade organizations. Market data: Based on data reported in WSJ Market Data Center (indexes); U.S. Treasury (Treasury yields); U.S. Energy Information Administration/Bloomberg.com Market Data (oil spot price, WTI Cushing, OK); www.goldprice.org (spot gold/silver); Oanda/FX Street (currency exchange rates). All information is based on sources deemed reliable, but no warranty or guarantee is made as to its accuracy or completeness. Neither the information nor any opinion expressed herein constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any securities, and should not be relied on as financial advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal, and there can be no guarantee that any investing strategy will be successful.

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Prepared by Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. Copyright 2017