Quick Overview

• U.S. Personal incomes were up 0.3% in August while consumer spending was up 0.1%.
  

• The U.S. core rate of personal consumption expenditures, was up 2.5% YoY.

• The Chicago Purchasing Managers' index increased from 57.1 to 62.1 in September, more than expected
  

• The University of Michigan's index of consumer sentiment increased from 82.0 to 85.4 in September, more than expected.
  

• Canada's GDP was up 0.2% in July and up 2.5% YoY.
  

• Consumer prices in Tokyo were up 0.4% YoY. In all of Japan, consumer prices were up 0.9% YoY.
  Japan's unemployment rate was unchanged in August at 4.1%.
  

• Consumer prices in the Euro zone were up 1.8% in September YoY,
  

• New Zealand's GDP was up 0.5% in the second quarter and up 1.9% YoY
  
  

• The USDA said that, on September 1st, there were:
  1.97 billion bushels of corn in storage, down 7% YoY
  449 million bushels of soybeans in storage, up 75% YoY -- the most since 1986.
  1.74 billion bushels of wheat in storage, down 9% YoY.
  The USDA estimates 2006-2007 U.S. wheat production at 1.81 billion bushels, a bit more than expected.
  

• The USDA said there were 62.7 million hogs in inventory on September 1st, up 1.4% YoY. Hogs kept for breeding were up 1.8% YoY.
  
  

• It's getting hard to grow oranges in the Sunshine State. Months long droughts are broken by nasty hurricane seasons. Three diseases that kill and damage citrus trees and fruit continue to spread.