After the release of some worse-than-expected economic data, Wall Street prepares to open around parity. Dow Jones futures gain 0,04%, to 13.115 points, while those of the Nasdaq lose 0,06% (2.693 points) and those of the S&P 500 lose 0,05% (1.390 points).
In detail, it was published today in the United States the price index of imported goods, which marked the first growth – albeit modest – of the last three months. According to reports from the Labor Department, the indicator rose by 0,4% compared to the previous month. On an annual basis, the prices of imported goods increased by 5,5%. Economists were expecting a rise of 0,7%.
Oil commodity prices rose 1,8% in February after rising 0,3% the previous month. On an annual basis, prices for this category of goods grew by 18,4%. Excluding oil prices, prices of imported goods fell 0,2% last month.
As for the current account deficit branded USA, in the fourth quarter of 2011 it increased to 124,1 billion dollars (3,2% of GDP), the highest figure in the last three years. This time the data comes from the Department of Commerce. Once again analysts' estimates were higher: experts were expecting a deficit of 115 billion dollars. The expansion in the fourth quarter follows the contraction in the third, when the figure stopped at 107,6 billion (2,8% of GDP), the lowest figure in the last two years.
