The U.S. labor market continues to perform well. Continuous claims as well as new claims for unemployment insurance benefits are at historic lows. Seasonally adjusted (SA), claims stood at 1,896,000 on October 7^th, down 8,000 week on week.

On a three moving average, (3MMA) y/y comparison, the dollar was down 2.6% against the Broad Index. The dollar Broad Index was 98.68 on November 1^st, it has traded in a range of 95.00, (9/1/2017) to 103.09, (1/12017) over the past 12 months.

The three month moving average (3MMA), of the Baltic Dry Index (BDI), for September moved-up 16.9% to 1,331 month on month (m/m). The index has moved higher in each of the last four months. On a year on year basis, (y/y), the BDI was 68.4% higher.

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, (BEA), U.S. real GDP remained strong in Q3 coming in at 3.0% on an annualized basis, down a tick down from the 3.1% rate recorded in Q2.

Consumer confidence soared in October as the Conference Board Consumer Confidence Composite Index rose 5.3 points to 125.9 to reach its highest level in 17 years. The composite index three month moving average (3MMA) measured 122.3, up 1.6 points month on month (m/m).

The pace of U.S. economic growth accelerated in September as evidenced by the increased score of the CFNAI. The CFNAI moved-up 0.17 in September after a disappointing -0.37 in August.