Morning Market Report 3/14/2018

  

The KUIK Morning Market Report for Wednesday, March 14:

   

Markets are up.

 

Index

Direction

Change

Units

Index

Time

Change

Dow Jones Industrial Average

Up

                      34

 points

          25,041

7:14 AM

S&P500

Up

0.2%

percent

           2,770

Nasdaq Composite

Up

0.3%

percent

           7,532

            3.00

30 Year Treasury

Down

                       (2)

Basis Points

             3.08

Annual Yield

 

The Commerce Department reports sales at retailers fell 0.1% in February. That was the third monthly drop in a row and the first time that’s happened since 2012. Economists expected a 0.4% increase. Sales actually rose 0.3% if autos and gas are taken out. Gas station receipts dropped 1.2%, reflecting more stable prices after a runup in January. Sales at auto dealers fell 0.9% for the second month in a row as the post-hurricane spurt from the fall faded. Department stores also had a 0.9% drop while while internet retailers rose 1% .

The Commerce Department also reported wholesale prices rose  0.2% in February, a sign that inflation has settled down after flaring up in early 2018.  Economists expected 0.1% following a  0.4% rise in January. The 12-month rate of wholesale inflation edged up to 2.8%, but it’s still below a recent peak of 3.1%.

 

Serving the West Side first, I am Bill Roller of brcapitalinc.com for 1360 KUIK.

www.marketwatch.com/story/us-retail-sales-fall-for-third-month-in-a-row-2018-03-14

www.marketwatch.com/story/wholesale-inflation-tamer-in-february-ppi-shows-2018-03-14

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