QUESTION 1

1. Go to the Census Bureau website

http://www.census.gov/manufacturing/m3/

Go to "Full Report Highlights." and using the down arrow (PDF) pick 'Table 2 New Orders"

Look at the entry in table 2, 'All manufacturing industries' (seasonally adjusted) and answer the following question:

Question: What is the trend in 'all manufacturing industries' data from July to Sept. 2020?Look at seasonally adjusted, monthly data

Decreasing from July through Sept.

Increasing from July toAug. and decreasing from Aug. to Sept, 2020

Increasing from July to Sept. 2020

decreasing from July toAug. and increasing from Aug. to Sept, 2020

QUESTION 2

1. Go to the Census Bureau website

http://www.census.gov/manufacturing/m3/

Go to "Full Report Highlights." and using the down arrow pick 'Table 2 New Orders"

Look at the entry in table 2, 'All manufacturing industries' (seasonally adjusted) and then find the 'durable goods industries' and answer the following question:

Question: The durable goods industries see the following trend

decreasing from July to Aug. and increasing from Aug. to Sept. 2020

increasing from July to Aug.and decreasing from Aug.to Sept.2020

decreasing from July through Sept.

increasing from July to Sept.

QUESTION 3

1. Go to the Census Bureau website

http://www.census.gov/manufacturing/m3/

Go to "Full Report Highlights." and using the down arrow pick 'Table 2 New Orders"

Look at the entry in table 2, 'All manufacturing industries' (seasonally adjusted), look for 'durable Goods Industries' and answer the following question:

Question: The value of Durable Goods Industries in Sept. 2020 was ------- and it ------- by ------ percent from a year earlier (% change 2019/2020).

$233,187; decreased,11.3%

$237,380 million; decreased;10.1%

$247,660 million,decreased; 1.9%

$233,187million dollars;increased;11.8%

QUESTION 4

1. Go to the Census Bureau website

http://www.census.gov/manufacturing/m3/

Go to "Full Report Highlights." and using the down arrow pick 'Table 2 New Orders"

Look at the entry in table 2, 'All manufacturing industries' (seasonally adjusted, monthly) and answer the following question: (SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF TABLE 2)

Question: The value of Non-Durable Goods Industries in Sept. 2020 was----- and between 2019 and 2020 they ------- by ------ percent.

$237,594 million dollars;decreased; 6.9%

$241,606 million dollars;decreased;7.1%

$249.565 million dollars,increased;1.8%

$238,963 million dollars;increased;5.3%

QUESTION 5

1.Go to the Census Bureau website

http://www.census.gov/manufacturing/m3/

Go to "Full Report Highlights." and using the down arrow pick 'Table 2 New Orders"

Look at the entry in table 2, 'All manufacturing industries' (seasonally adjusted, monthly) and answer the following question: (SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF TABLE 2)

Question: The trend in non-manufacturing goods is ----

decreasing from July through Sept. 2020

increasing from July to Sept. 2020

Increasing from July to Aug.and decreasing from Aug. to Sept.2020

decreasing from July to Aug. and increasing from August to Sept.2020

QUESTION 6

1.U.S. Economy Recovered Significant Ground in Record Third-Quarter GDP Rebound.ByHarriet Torry. Updated Oct. 29, 2020 5:19 pm ET (hint: Good article for the term paper)

https://www.wsj.com/articles/us-gdp-third-quarter-2020-11603908566

Question: The Real GDP for the U.S. jumped by 7.4% in the third quarter. What is the prognosis for the economy going forward?

Economy will continue to improve in the fourth quarter albeit at a slower pace than the summer

Half the economist surveyed by the WSJ believe, the economy will contract by 3.6% this year and recovery depends on getting the pandemic under control since.

The Pandemic triggered extreme swings in the output making the annualized numbers misleading. The third quarter annualized numbers are not expected to continue for a full year.

All answers are correct.

QUESTION 7

1.U.S. Household Spending Rose 1.4% in September.ByAmara Omeokwe.Updated Oct. 30, 2020 12:35 pm ET

https://www.wsj.com/articles/consumer-spending-personal-income-coronavirus-september-2020-11604012444

Question: Which of the following statements is false?

a.

Consumer spending rose by 1.4% last month, a boost for the fifth straight month.

b.

Consumers are still spending but the composition of goods and services in their baskets are different now

c.

Private sector data showed the consumer spending now is higher than the 2019 levels.

d.

Both B and C are false.

QUESTION 8

1.Bipartisan Retirement Bill Offers Later Withdrawals, Paths to Lost Accounts.ByAnne TergesenandRichard Rubin.Oct. 27, 2020 12:43 pm ET

https://www.wsj.com/articles/bipartisan-retirement-bill-offers-later-withdrawals-paths-to-lost-accounts-11603817024

Question: A report by the FED reported that 25% of Americans surveyed in 2019, who had yet to retire, had no retirement saving at all and less than 40% felt their retirement saving was on track. How will the "Retirement Bill" help?

Small businesses will get additional tax credit to make it easier for employers to offer 401(k)-type- accounts.

To reduce the racial gap in retirement saving, automatic enrollment in plans will be mandatory for employers who have more than 10 workers. Employees can opt out.

Age for taking withdrawals from 401(k) and IRAs will increase from 72 to 75. The bill will also waive required distributions entirely for people who have cumulative balances of $100,000 or less.

All of the above will help

QUESTION 9

1. U.S. Durable-Goods Orders Rose for Fifth Consecutive Month in September.ByJeffrey Sparshott.Updated Oct. 27, 2020 12:08 pm ET

(Hint: Good article for the term paper if you have durable goods as an indicator)

https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-durable-goods-orders-rose-for-fifth-consecutive-month-in-september-11603802810

Question: What are durable goods?

A close proxy for "business investment."

Products designed to last at least three years

Index of consumer confidence

All answers are correct

QUESTION 10

1. Foreign Investment Plummets During Pandemic, Except in China.ByPaul Hannon.Oct. 27, 2020 4:04 am ET

https://www.wsj.com/articles/foreign-investment-plummets-during-pandemic-except-in-china-11603785873

Question: Why was foreign investment resilient in China despite the spread of Coronavirus in 2020?

a.

China was able to open its economy in April (after containing the virus in Wuhan) and has since been able to use localized and short-lived restrictions with new outbreaks.

b.

It was expected that the world would reduce its reliance on China as a key part of their supply chain. However analysts say that instead of divestment from China, investors are building additional capacities outside China.

c.

China has long been the top global destination for businesses investing overseas with United States ranked as second. China seemed to have kept it's ranking in 2020.

d.

A and B are correct.