In the US session Durable Goods Orders and Pending Home Sales data will be released. New orders for manufactured durable goods in August increased $3.9 billion or 1.7 percent to $232.8 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This increase, up two of the last three months, followed a 6.8 percent July decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.2 percent. Excluding defense, new orders increased 2.2 percent. Transportation equipment, also up two of the last three months, led the increase, $3.6 billion or 4.9 percent to $77.4 billion.
The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, retreated 2.6 percent to 106.3 in August from 109.1 in July. The index is now at its lowest reading since January 2016 (106.1), is 2.6 percent below a year ago, and has fallen on an annual basis in four of the past five months. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, says this summer’s terribly low supply levels have officially drained all of the housing market’s momentum over the past year.
There will be no major data releases from Australia tomorrow. In the US session Final GDP and Unemployment Claims figures will be released. GDP is expected to grew by 3.0% while Unemployment Claims should increase to 269,000.
Figures to watch:
Final GDP (Thursday 14:30)
Unemployment Claims (Thursday 14:30)
