With the United Kingdom, Canada and EUstats release of February data, I have updated my comparison graph. [Note, the USA(EU method) is directly from Eurostat.]
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Comparison of Inflation in selected countries- March, 2024 Edition
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
A Foray into the 2024 Presidential Election, Part XII
It's been a couple of weeks, since the last review. Not a lot has changed, but there were some minor adjustments.
The republican edge in Arizona, narrowed a bit (-0.2%), but still in the slight range beyond the margin of error.
The republican edge in Pennsylvania, increased a bit (+0.8), which moved it from the Toss Up category back to slight, with it being just above the margin of error.
Saturday, March 16, 2024
My electricity bills over time (March, 2024 Edition)
Just for fun, I track my electricity usage and voila!!
Thursday, March 14, 2024
This Week in Petroleum Summary March 14th, 2024 per EIA.GOV
This week's full report.
Consumption is heading up, just ahead of this week, last year.
PPI Mar. 2024 release February 2024 Data
The BLS has released the February, 2024 Producer Price Index Report. (historical releases)
The Producer Price Index for final demand rose 0.6 percent in February, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Final demand prices increased 0.3 percent in January and edged down 0.1 percent in December 2023. (See table A.) On an unadjusted basis, the final demand index advanced 1.6 percent for the 12 months ended in February, the largest rise since moving up 1.8 percent for the 12 months ended September 2023.
In February, nearly two-thirds of the rise in final demand prices can be traced to the index for final demand goods, which advanced 1.2 percent. Prices for final demand services moved up 0.3 percent.
The index for final demand less foods, energy, and trade services increased 0.4 percent in February after rising 0.6 percent in January. For the 12 months ended in February, prices for final demand less foods, energy, and trade services moved up 2.8 percent.
Current graph with revisions...
Then there is this chart, which briefly compares the category to previous month's annual rate.
3/14/2024, Advance Retail Sales Report for February Data
Advance Monthly Sales for Retail and Food Services, February Report.
Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for February 2024, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $700.7 billion, up 0.6 percent (±0.5 percent) from the previous month, and up 1.5 percent (±0.7 percent) above February 2023. Total sales for the December 2023 through February 2024 period were up 2.1 percent (±0.5 percent) from the same period a year ago. The December 2023 to January 2024 percent change was revised from down 0.8 percent (±0.5 percent) to down 1.1 percent (±0.4 percent).
Of course the previous 2 months were revised downward...
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
BLS Data Dump. CPI - March 12th, 2024
First up is the BLS Report for CPI...(historical releases)
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.4 percent in February on a seasonally adjusted basis, after rising 0.3 percent in January, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.2 percent before seasonal adjustment.
The index for shelter rose in February, as did the index for gasoline. Combined, these two indexes contributed over sixty percent of the monthly increase in the index for all items. The energy index rose 2.3 percent over the month, as all of its component indexes increased. The food index was unchanged in February, as was the food at home index. The food away from home index rose 0.1 percent over the month.
While the chart below shows the past 12 months, it should be noted the end of 2022 also saw a downward trend, prior to 2023 rises. The February number continues the 2023 1st quarter upward swing.
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
This Week in Petroleum Summary March 6th, 2024 per EIA.GOV
This week's full report.
Consumption continues to rise on a weekly basis, but not yet at last year's seasonal levels.
Saturday, March 2, 2024
A Foray into the 2024 Presidential Election, Part XI
I said I would not post another election article, unless there were changes. I guess I lied.
Thursday, February 29, 2024
Review of January 2024 data, 4Q GDP Revision, PCE and personal income
The monthly summary...
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
This Week in Petroleum Summary February 28th, 2024 per EIA.GOV
This week's full report.
Upward movement in consumption continues...
Saturday, February 24, 2024
Comparison of Inflation in selected countries- February, 2024 Edition
With the United Kingdom, Canada and EUstats release of December data, I have updated my comparison graph. [Note, the USA(EU method) is directly from Eurostat.]
This Week in Petroleum Summary February 22nd, 2024 per EIA.GOV
This week's full report.
Indicators have aligned to suggest upward movement in consumption.
Sunday, February 18, 2024
A Foray into the 2024 Presidential Election, Part X
The polls have altered the landscape, ever so slightly. While there have been several polls, none really changed much, except for Nevada, back on January 11.
Saturday, February 17, 2024
My electricity bills over time (February, 2024 Edition)
Yep, time for the review of electricity consumption... MINE!
Friday, February 16, 2024
PPI Feb. 2024 release January 2024 Data
The BLS has released the January, 2024 Producer Price Index Report. (historical releases)
Final demand services: The index for final demand services moved up 0.6 percent in January, the largest increase since rising 0.8 percent in July 2023. In January, most of the advance is attributable to prices for final demand services less trade, transportation, and warehousing, which climbed 0.8 percent. The index for final demand trade services moved up 0.2 percent. (Trade indexes measure changes in margins received by wholesalers and retailers.) Conversely, prices for final demand transportation and warehousing services fell 0.4 percent.
Product detail: A 2.2-percent increase in the index for hospital outpatient care was a major factor in the January rise in prices for final demand services. The indexes for chemicals and allied products wholesaling, machinery and equipment wholesaling, portfolio management, traveler accommodation services, and legal services also moved higher. In contrast, prices for long-distance motor carrying decreased 1.0 percent. The indexes for computer hardware, software, and supplies retailing and for engineering services also moved lower. (See table 2.)
I emphasized a specfic portion. after much jockeying with revisions of numbers in the medical category over the past year... those have come to and end. So after all these revision helped tamp down inflation numbers, those days are over.
Thursday, February 15, 2024
2/15/2024, Advance Retail Sales Report for January Data
Advance Monthly Sales for Retail and Food Services, January Report.
Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for January 2024, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $700.3 billion, down 0.8 percent (±0.5 percent) from the previous month, and up 0.6 percent (±0.7 percent)* above January 2023. Total sales for the November 2023 through January 2024 period were up 3.1 percent (±0.5 percent) from the same period a year ago. The November 2023 to December 2023 percent change was revised from up 0.6 percent (±0.5 percent) to up 0.4 percent (±0.3 percent).
Cutting through the malarkey...
Looking at the average monthly sales (adjusted for inflation) since March, 2021... is provided in this graph.
- Furniture and home furnishings
- Grocery stores (just barely)
- Food services and drinking places.
This Week in Petroleum Summary May 8th, 2024 per EIA.GOV
This week's full report . Gasoline fell -2.3¢ for the week, but remains +10.3¢ from year ago level. Consumption did edge up this past r...
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The Energy Information Administration released their weekly report yesterday. The Pacific Region continues to be below year ago and 5 year...
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The Energy Information Administration released their weekly report Thursday. In great shape, except for the west coast... So prices are do...
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The monthly summary... The downward shift in inflation continues across the board, with the exception of my price index, which is more about...