4/19: MetroIntelligence Economic Update by P. DUFFY
Early April business growth index slips to 52.8, but still in positive territory
At 52.8 in April, down from 54.6 in March, the seasonally adjusted IHS Markit Flash U.S. Composite PMI Output Index signalled the slowest increase in overall business activity since September 2016.
https://www.markiteconomics.com/Survey/PressRelease.mvc/9fee4681de4c48fea91590204289b20d
Retail sales rebounded by 1.6 percent in March and 3.6 percent year-on-year
March retail sales rose 1.6 percent from the previous month (the largest jump since Sept. 2017), and were also up 3.6 percent from March 2018. Total sales for the first quarter of 2019 were up 2.9 percent from the same period a year ago.
https://www.census.gov/retail/marts/www/marts_current.pdf
March Leading Economic Index rose another 0.4 percent
The US Leading Economic Index picked up in 0.4 percent in March to 111.9 with labor markets, consumers’ outlook, and financial conditions making the largest contributions.