Financial Options

Each of the upcoming financial items included in this post will be posted here in the Economic Indicators category as it becomes available. Please take a moment to vote on the poll to help me decide whether to edit this post to link each individual item as it becomes availble.

Tuesday the 20th, the Commerce Department will release Housing Starts for November. As the Fed and Fed watchers try to guage the results of attempts to slow the inflation of housing asset values, this will be a key indicator to watch. Also Tuesday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the Producer Price Index for November. The Consumer Price Index for November showed the largest price deflation in 56 years, so this will also be an important number to watch as we try to see if the Fed has overdone its cooling campaign and missed the much desired but usually elusive «soft landing.»

Wednesday the 21st, the Bureau of Economic Analysis will release the 3rd Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Corporate Profit numbers. Thepreliminary estimate showed GDP growth at a 4.3% annual rate and a $45.5 billion drop in corporate profits as a result of $151.2 billion in storm related losses.

Thursday the 22nd, the Conference Board releases its index of leading economic indicators carrying a glimpse of the months ahead. Also Thursday, the Bureau of Economic Analysis will release the November Personal Consumption and Income figures.

Friday the 23rd, the Commerce Department releases figures for New Home Sales and Durable Goods Orders for November. Durable goods orders are an important indicator of general economic activity and reflect both consumer and business purchasing manager sentiment. The New Home Sales is another important number with the focus on housing asset values.