Economic Report

In comparison to previous data, the United States' economic index has risen in the last month. It was observed in October 2017 by the Conference Board, an organization charged with providing realistic expertise to leading organizations in order to increase their efficiency and service quality. The board announced a 2.9 percent increase in the Leading Economic Index, as well as a 5.9 percent average rate increase in the six-month period ended in October 2017. (The Conference Board, 2017). This rise was achieved through different positive contributors such as an increase in the average consumer expectations for business conditions as well as a boost in the average weekly initial claims for unemployment insurance.

However, amidst all the positive factors that led to the rise in the economic index for October, there were some lagging aspects that limited the rise, such as the average duration of unemployment and the commercial and industrial loans among others.

The United States’ Census Bureau, on the other hand, reported an estimated growth increase in the amount of food production and retail services in the country for the month of October. There was a 0.2% (±0.5 %) increase in the sales from $485.4 billion to $486.6 billion (“Retail Sales Report,” 2017). The trading-day differences between the two months were a result of the adjusted seasonal variation and the onset of the holiday seasons.

The consumer credit involving both the revolving and non-revolving forms saw an increase of 5.5 % for the month of September, 2017, and an annual growth of 6.75%. The Federal Reserve Bank reported a significant flow of billions of dollars between the two periods. A total of $ 289.5 billion was received by the bank for the same period compared to a $ 281.1 billion that was recorded by the bank for a similar timeframe in 2016 (“The Fed - Consumer Credit - G.19,” 2017). The amount flowing through the banking system includes all forms of credit extended to individuals, only excluding loans secured by real estates.

The Federal Reserve Bank also monitors the amount of money that is maintained within the institution's vault. It is required to be maintained at the specific level by the bank for it to be able to implement its monetary policy. This amount, as recorded by the bank’s releases, has been fluctuating during each month, but as recorded, the amount of money maintained as the minimum balance for the month of October was seen to be higher compared to that of 2016. The bank recorded $ 2.1 million dollars for October, 2017, compared to $ 1.9 million dollars for the same month in 2016 (“The Fed - Aggregate Reserves of Depository Institutions and the Monetary Base - H.3,” 2017).

There was a 7.8% increase in the seasonally adjusted rates between October, 2016, and October, 2017. The report shows that in 2016, the money stock rates were at $ 3,335.6 billion while the 2017 rates were at $3,594.8 billion. Considering the monthly analysis, the rates for September, 2017, were recorded at $3,553.2 dollars compared to the $ 3,594.8 billion from October of the same year (“The Fed - Money Stock and Debt Measures - H.6 Release,” 2017). The 1.1% boost in the amount of money stock measures received by the banks between September and October shows the rate of growth in the economic development in the country.

This growing trend in the economic index from September’s Hurricane crises only affected the index for September. The analysis recorded after the Hurricane crisis shows a rise in the economic prowess in the state and is expected to continue in 2018.

References

Retail sales report. (2017). The Census Bureau. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/retail/index.html.

The Conference Board (2017). Retrieved from https://www.conference-board.org/.

The fed - Aggregate reserves of depository institutions and the monetary base - H.3. (2017). Federal Reserve. Retrieved from https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/h3/current/.

The fed - Consumer credit - G.19. (2017). Federal Reserve. Retrieved from https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/g19/current/default.htm.

The fed - Money stock and debt measures - H.6 release. (2017). Federal Reserve. Retrieved from https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/h6/current/default.htm.