February 2018 CFNAI Super Index Moving Average Significantly Improves

The economy’s rate of growth jumped based on the Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) 3 month moving (3MA) average – and the economic growth remains above the historical trend rate of growth.

Analyst Opinion of the CFNAI This Month

The single month index which is not used for economic forecasting which unfortunately is what the CFNAI headlines. Economic predictions are based on the 3 month moving average. The single month index historically is very noisy and the 3 month moving average would be the way to view this index in any event.

There was insignificant revision to the last 3 months of data.

In the table below, see the three month rolling average for the last 6 months – it shows an improving economy.

The three month moving average of the Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) improved from +0.16 (originally reported as +0.17 last month) to +0.37

PLEASE NOTE:

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A value of zero for the index would indicate that the national economy is expanding at its historical trend rate of growth, and that a level below -0.7 would be indicating a recession was likely underway. Econintersect uses the three month trend because the index is very noisy (volatile).

CFNAI Three Month Moving Average (blue line) with Historical Recession Line (red line)

As the 3 month index is the trend line, the trend is mixed or flat. As stated: this index only begins to show what is happening in the economy after many months of revision following the index’s first release.

CFNAI Three Month Moving Average Showing Month-over-Month Change