Economic Indicators Show Mixed Signals

While manufacturing activity is expected to improve, pending home sales and business activity may see a decline.

Economists expect December’s reading of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond's manufacturing activity index to improve to -4 from -5 in November.
The National Association of Realtors' monthly pending home sales index is expected to show a rise of 0.5% last month, as easing mortgage rates gave homebuyers some breathing room.
Pending home sales fell 1.5% in October as the average rate on a 30-year mortgage surged to its highest level since 2000.
MNI Indicators' monthly Chicago business barometer index, a key gauge of U.S. regional business activity, increased to 55.8 in November, its highest level since May 2022.
Economists project that this month’s reading of the Chicago business barometer index fell to 49.8.