Ciber News Release (10/28/14)

Ciber Inc. reported revenues of $211.3 million for the third quarter of 2014, down 2% (down 3% in constant currency) from $215.1 million in the third quarter of 2013. The company also posted a net loss of $1.9 million before amortization and restructuring charges, compared with net income of $1.4 million in the year-ago quarter. North American revenues totaled $106.3 million, up 1% from $104.9 million in the 2013 third quarter.

Heidrick & Struggles International Inc. News Release (10/28/14)

Heidrick & Struggles reported consolidated net revenue of $125.8 million in the third quarter of 2014, up 5.8% from $119 million in the third quarter of 2013. Net income totaled $3 million, down 26.8% from net income of $4.1 million in the year-ago quarter.

By segment, net revenue totaled $115.5 million for Executive Search and Leadership Consulting, up 2.7% on a year-to-year basis from $112.4 million, and $10.3 million for Culture Shaping services, up 57.4% from $6.6 million.

Conference Board News Release (10/28/14)

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index rose from 89.0 in September to 94.5 in October. The Present Situation Index edged up from 93.0 to 93.7, and the Expectations Index rose from 86.4 to 95.0.

“Consumer confidence, which had declined in September, rebounded in October,” says Lynn Franco, director of economic indicators at the Conference Board. “A more favorable assessment of the current job market and business conditions contributed to the improvement in consumers’ view of the present situation. Looking ahead, consumers have regained confidence in the short-term outlook for the economy and labor market, and are more optimistic about their future earnings potential.”

Consumers anticipating more jobs in the months ahead increased from 16.0% to 16.8%, and those anticipating fewer jobs fell from 16.9% to 13.9%.

Wall Street Journal (10/28/14) Jonathan House; Josh Mitchell

Durable goods orders declined for the second consecutive month in September, the latest indication of uneven improvement in the economy. Orders fell by 1.3%, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Economists polled by the Wall Street Journal had forecast orders would increase by 0.7% in September.

Excluding the transportation category, orders declined 0.2%, and excluding defense goods, orders declined 1.5%. The report indicated that worries about slowing global growth could be affecting business confidence.

Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas (10/27/2014)

Texas factory activity increased again in October, according to business executives responding to the Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. The production index, a key measure of state manufacturing conditions, fell from 17.6 to 13.7, indicating output grew but at a slightly slower pace than in September. The new orders index rose from 7.5 to 14.2, reaching a six-month high.

Labor market indicators reflected continued employment growth and longer work weeks. The October employment index posted a robust reading for the fifth consecutive month, holding steady at 10.2. Nineteen percent of firms reported net hiring, compared with 9% reporting net layoffs. The hours worked index also held fairly steady, coming in at 8.3 after rising to 9.5 last month.