Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Quick Overview

  • U.S. Consumer confidence rose slightly in the latest week despite soaring gasoline prices, a survey showed on Tuesday.

  • US PPI for March was out at +0.5% vs. 0.4% expected, but less Food and Energy out at +0.1% vs. 0.2% expected.

  • U.S. New housing starts fell 7.8% in March to the lowest level in a year, the Commerce Department reported.

  • Federal Reserve officials meeting in late March felt the U.S. central bank was nearly done raising interest rates, minutes from the meeting released on Tuesday showed.

  • The USDA reduced the winter wheat crop that is rated good to excellent from 41% to 39%.

  • The average price of a gallon of diesel fuel continued to rise, up 11.1 cents to $2.765 a gallon, the Energy Department said.

No comments: