The first quarter total US scrap exports came in at 3,152,000 tonnes, up 11.0% year on year (y/y). Once again Turkey was the largest importer, bringing in 542,700 tonnes in the first quarter, an 11.8% decrease y/y.

The total number of seasonally adjusted (SA), non-farm people employed in the US in April was 146,063,000. This figure was up 2,186,000 (+1.52%) year on year and increased by of 211,000 month on month (0.14%).

Each month the US Census Bureau issues a report on inventory levels of manufactured goods. The time series data is presented in both seasonally adjusted (SA), non-inflation adjusted dollars and inflation adjusted dollars.

This voluntary survey is conducted with a senior loan officer at each respondent bank. Senior financial officer staff at the reserve banks with knowledge of bank lending practices administer the interview.

The US dollar (USD) has retreated for three weeks in a row against a basket of currencies known as the Broad Index. The April 2017 Broad index value was 99.84, down 0.8% from the March’s reading and the first month as a two digit number after recording a string of five triple digit values.

Total consumer spending increased by $16.4 billion (B), in March well above the $15.0 billion consensus expectation.