U.S. PPI fell 0.7% April after a 0.6% decline in March. The core rate edged up 0.1% U.S. PPI fell 0.7% April after a 0.6% decline in March. The core rate edged up 0.1% after March's 0.2% increase. Energy prices fell 2.5% after March's 3.4% drop. Foods were down 0.8%. Consumer goods prices dropped 1.0% as gasoline prices fell 6.0% following a 6.8% drop previously. Passenger car prices declined 0.2%. Residential gas was up 4.5%. Women's apparel was up 0.2%. Capital equipment costs inched up 0.1%, with light motor truck prices down 0.1% and computers off 0.9%. Data are a little weaker than expected and continue to reflect a global slowdown in inflation.
Producer Price Index PPI less food & energy data reported April Producer Price Index PPI less food & energy up 0.1% vs. consensus of 0.2% for the month
Canada Manufacturing Preview: Canada Manufacturing Preview: Analysts expect manufacturing shipments to rise 1.0% in March. The increase would follow the 2.6% surge in February. Export values surged 5.1% in March. Growth was broadbased and export volumes also rose 5.1%. Also on the encouraging side, unfilled orders rose 0.5% in February after a 5.5% gain in January, extending the run of gains seen since November.
U.S. NY Fed "Empire State" Index Preview U.S. NY Fed "Empire State" Index Preview: May Empire State index is expected to show the headline increasing to 5.0 (median 3.6) from 3.1 in April. The Empire State will give us the first look at how sentiment may be performing in May. At present analysts expect rebounds across the board after a weak April.