Hope everyone is having a great week. Very good week in economic news. We'll start with Bernanke's testimony stating low rates for an extended amount of time. It's good to keep up with the Fed Chairman's statement's to be able to form a proper outlook on interest rate decisions which lead to most all economic barometers.
United States retail numbers this week are very strong. Retail sales rose 1.6% to $363.5 billion in March. 5th gain in the last 6 months. Retail sales are up 7.6% year to year
Manufacturing activity in the New York region at the fastest pace since May 2004. The new orders and shipment indexes increased and the inventory index rose to a record high. The index for the number of employees rose to its highest level in more than 2 years. The price index also increased to its highest level since late 2008.
Philly Fed manufacturing index rises to 20.2. Business conditions improved for the eighth straight month.
Foreign investors continued to purchase U.S. assets this month at a violent pace. Total holdings of equities, notes, and bonds increased to $47.1 billion in February. Favorable exchange rates and the leading pace of economic recovery in the United States are leading factors.
