Economic data day in chiaroscuro for the US economy. The latest figures from the Labor Department are far worse than analysts expected: last week new applications submitted for unemployment benefits reached a peak of 380 thousand units, against the 355 thousand expected. The increase is 13 units, compared to the 367 of the previous week. The four-week average came in at 368.500, up 4.250 from the previous week's revised figure of 364.250.
Better news for the US comes on the trade front: in February the country's trade deficit fell to 46 billion dollars, up from a revised 52,5 in January. This time the data - released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the Department of Commerce - exceeds the estimates of analysts, who had forecast a deficit of 52 billion. Exports of goods and services grew to 181,2 billion (+180,9 billion in January), while imports increased by 227,2 billion (+233,4 billion in January).
Finally, in March they stayed the prices of industrial production remained unchanged, which instead increased by 0,4% in February. In this case, analysts who estimated a positive change of 0,3%. On an annual basis there was instead an increase of 2,8% compared to the +3,3% of the previous month.
Based on these data, Dow Jones futures grow by 6 points (0,05%, to 12.751), those of Nasdaq by 4 points (0,16%, at 2.708,50) and those of the S & P500 they grew by 1 point (0,04%, to 1.364,60).
