TradeBlog (TM) .net / Personal Finance Blog

US Quarterly Services Survey

U.S. Information Services sector revenue for the first quarter of 2006, not adjusted for seasonal variation, holiday or trading-day differences, or price changes, was $249.2 billion, a decrease of 3.8 percent from the fourth quarter of 2005.

Apocalyptic Days for Homebuilders

Some truly apocalyptic comments from Don Tomnitz, CEO of homebuilder D.R. Horton, at the Credit Suisse Homebuilders Symposium today. He is expecting 2007 to be worse than 2006, and maybe stabilization by 2008:

"We have never seen housing prices and demand slow as quickly as they have during this downcycle," said the CEO of the nation's largest home builder when measured by 2005 deliveries. "Demand has evaporated to the extent of about 20% to 30% for the industry, and in a tighter timeframe than we've seen before."

U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services

The Nation's international deficit in goods and services decreased to $64.8 billion in June from $65.0 billion (revised) in May, as exports increased more than imports.
June 2006: -64.8 $ billion
May 2006: -65.0 $ billion

New Home Sales

Sales of new one-family houses in July 2006 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,072,000. This is 4.3% below the revised June 2006 figure of 1,120,000.
July 2006: -4.3 % change
June 2006: -0.9 % change

Construction Spending

Total construction activity for July 2006 ($1,200.0 billion) was 1.2 percent below the revised June 2006 ($1,214.2 billion).
July 2006: -1.2 % change
June 2006: 0.4 % change

Personal Income for Metropolitan Areas, 2005

Personal income growth was slower in 2005 than in 2004 in most of the nation's metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), according to estimates released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Despite the slowdown, 2005 per capita income grew faster than inflation (2.9 percent as measured by the national price index for personal consumption expenditure) in nearly three-fourths of the MSAs. The estimates for 2005 are based on a methodology developed by BEA to speed up the release of MSA personal income by seven months-one of BEA's major goals in its strategic plan.

Title: Personal Income for Metropolitan Areas, 2005
Link: http://www.bea.gov/bea/newsrel/MPINewsRelease.htm

Personal Income and Outlays, July 2006

Personal income increased $60.2 billion, or 0.5 percent, and disposable personal income (DPI) increased $63.9 billion, or 0.7 percent, in July, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $78.7 billion, or 0.8 percent. In June, personal income increased $60.0 billion, or 0.6 percent, DPI increased $47.8 billion, or 0.5 percent, and PCE increased $36.6 billion, or 0.4 percent, based on revised estimates.

Title: Personal Income and Outlays, July 2006
Link: http://www.bea.gov/bea/newsrelarchive/2006/pi0706.htm

U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services June 2006

The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the Department of Commerce, announced today that total June exports of $120.7 billion and imports of $185.5 billion resulted in a goods and services deficit of $64.8 billion, $0.2 billion less than the $65.0 billion in May, revised. June exports were $2.4 billion more than May exports of $118.4 billion. June imports were $2.2 billion more than May imports of $183.4 billion.

Title: U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services June 2006
Link: http://www.bea.gov/bea/newsrel/trad0606.htm

What Financial Researchers Look For Online

Consumers research financial products online because the Web is always available, quick, and easy and lets them research at home. Most online researchers start at search engines and then use a variety of other sites to research their financial decisions. These researchers are looking for a mix of product details, comparisons, and help choosing the right product. As most financial firms don't provide that information, many researchers are going to independent Web sites to find the information that they want. These independent sites are chipping away at financial firms' retail relationships, threatening to relegate financial firms to the role of manufacturers that have to pay to secure distribution.

Title: What Financial Researchers Look For Online
Link: http://www.forrester.com/go?docid=40089

Consumers Rate Their Financial Institutions

Forrester asked consumers to rate their primary bank, investment firm, and insurer on two categories of criteria: value delivered and service provided. When we analyzed the ratings for 30 different financial institutions, we found that credit unions, Edward Jones, and USAA were at the top of the list in both categories. Other firms that received above-average scores on most of the criteria: Ameriprise Financial, American Family Insurance, and State Farm. At the other end of the spectrum, Citibank, Chase, Merrill Lynch, Nationwide Mutual Insurance, Smith Barney, and SunTrust received below-average scores on most of the criteria.

Title: Consumers Rate Their Financial Institutions
Link: http://www.forrester.com/go?docid=40045