A report released by the Labor Department on Wednesday showed first-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits unexpectedly edged lower in the week ended November 23rd.
The Labor Department said initial jobless claims dipped to 213,000, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week’s revised level of 215,000.
Economists had expected jobless claims to rise to 217,000 from the 213,000 originally reported for the previous week.
The report said the less volatile four-week moving average also slipped to 217,000, a decrease of 1,250 from the previous week’s revised average of 218,250.
The Commerce Department also released a report on Wednesday showing new orders for U.S. manufactured durable goods increased by less than expected in the month of October.
The report said durable goods orders rose by 0.2 in October after falling by a revised 0.4 percent in September.
Economists had expected durable goods orders to climb by 0.5 percent compared to the 0.7 percent decrease that had been reported for the previous month.
Excluding orders for transportation equipment, durable goods orders inched up by 0.1 in October after rising by 0.4 percent in September. Ex-transportation orders were expected to edge up by 0.2 percent.
Meanwhile, the jump by U.S. economic activity in the third quarter was unrevised compared to the previous estimate, according to another report released by the Commerce Department on Wednesday.
The Commerce Department said gross domestic product surged by 2.8 percent in the third quarter, unchanged versus the “advance” estimate issued last month.
The report said upward revisions to private inventory investment and nonresidential fixed investment were offset by downward revisions to exports and consumer spending.
The unrevised increase by GDP in the third quarter still reflects a modest slowdown from the 3.0 percent jump in the second quarter.
At 9:45 am ET, MNI Indicators is scheduled to release its report on Chicago-area business activity in the month of November. The Chicago business barometer is expected to climb to 44.7 in November from 41.6 in October, but a reading below 50 would still indicate contraction.
The Commerce Department is due to release its report on personal income and spending in the month of October at 10 am ET. Personal income and spending are both expected to increase by 0.3 percent.
The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index is expected to rise by 0.2 percent for the second straight month, while the annual rate of growth is expected to accelerate to 2.3 percent in October from 2.1 percent in September.
The core PCE price index, which excludes food and energy prices, is also expected to increase by 0.3 percent for the second straight month, while the annual rate of growth is expected to tick up to 2.8 percent in October from 2.7 percent in September.
Also at 10 am ET, the National Association of Realtors is due to release its report on pending home sales in the month of October. Pending home sales are expected to slump by 1.3 percent in October after spiking by 7.4 percent in September.
The Energy Information Administration is scheduled to release its report on oil inventories in the week ended November 22nd at 10:30 am ET. Crude oil inventories are expected to decrease by 1.3 million barrels after rising by 0.5 million barrels in the previous week.
At 1 pm ET, the Treasury Department is due to announce the results of this month’s auction of $44 billion worth of seven-year notes.