US economic activity weakens, Chicago Federal Reserve finds

National economic activity weakened in June, according to the Chicago Federal Reserve National Activity Index. The Chicago Federal Reserve's index used 85 indicators of national economic activity in four overall categories. 

This chart shows the national economic activity weakened from Chicago Federal Reserve National Activity Index. National economic activity weakened in June.

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July 21, 2014

The latest release of the Chicago Federal Reserve National Activity Index (CFNAI) indicated that the national economic activity weakened in June with the index falling to a very weak level of 0.12 from a level of 0.16 in May while the three month moving average worsened to a weak level of 0.13. 

The CFNAI is a weighted average of 85 indicators of national economic activity collected into four overall categories of “production and income”, “employment, unemployment and income”, “personal consumption and housing” and “sales, orders and inventories”.

The Chicago Fed regards a value of zero for the total index as indicating that the national economy is expanding at its historical trend rate while a negative value indicates below average growth.

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A value at or below -0.70 for the three month moving average of the national activity index (CFNAI-MA3) indicates that the national economy has either just entered or continues in recession.