U.S. Economic News
December 11, 2018
U.S. Economic Indicators
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell 2.6 points to 104.8 in November but remains near all-time highs, as eight of the components declined and two remained unchanged. Expected Business Conditions plunged 11 percentage points to 22%, the lowest reading since November 2016. NFIB Report
The headline Producer Price Index (“PPI”) for final demand inched up 0.1% in November and is up 2.5% since November of last year. The core — which removes the volatile prices of food, energy, and trade services — rose 0.3% and is up 2.8% year-over-year. BLS Report
U.S. News
According the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. and China began the latest round of trade talks with a phone call between Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He. The three discussed Chinese purchases of agricultural products and China’s general economic policies despite tensions over the arrest of a key Chinese business executive in Canada. WSJ