by Calculated Risk on 9/25/2012 04:06:00 PM

Catching up on a few earlier releases ...

• From the Richmond Fed: Manufacturing Activity Ticked Up in September; New Orders Turned Positive

In September, the seasonally adjusted composite index of manufacturing activity — our broadest measure of manufacturing — gained thirteen points to 4 from August's reading of −9. Among the index's components, shipments rose eight points to 9, new orders picked up twenty-seven points to end at 7, and the jobs index held steady at −5.

This expansion followed three months of contraction in this index and was better than expected.

• From the Conference Board: Consumer Confidence Index® Increases in September. Index Improves Nine Points

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®, which had declined in August, improved in September. The Index now stands at 70.3 (1985=100), up from 61.3 in August.

This was above expectations.

• From the FHFA: FHFA House Price Index Up 0.2 Percent in July

U.S. house prices rose 0.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from June to July, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s monthly House Price Index. ... For the 12 months ending in July, U.S. prices rose 3.7 percent.

Earlier on house prices:
• Case-Shiller: House Prices increased 1.2% year-over-year in July
• House Price Comments, Real House Prices, Price-to-Rent Ratio