ECONOMIC UPDATES
Sunday, February 06
Last Week in the News Initial claims for unemployment benefits fell by 42,000 to 415,000 for the week ending January 29. Continuing claims for the week ending January 22 fell by 84,000 to 3.9 million. The unemployment rate fell to 9% in January from 9.4% in December.The Mortgage Bankers Associ...
ECONOMIC UPDATES
Sunday, January 30
Last Week in the News The Commerce Department announced that gross domestic product — the total output of goods and services produced in the U.S. — increased at an annual rate of 3.2% in the final quarter of 2010. This follows a 2.6% pace of growth in the third quarter of 2010.The Standard &am...
ECONOMIC UPDATES
Sunday, January 23
Last Week in the News The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo housing market index was unchanged in January at 16. Economists had anticipated a reading of 17. An index reading below 50 indicates negative sentiment about the housing market.The Mortgage Bankers Association said its...
ECONOMIC UPDATES
Wednesday, January 19
Last Week in the News Wholesalers decreased their inventories 0.2% in November, following a revised 1.7% rise in October. Sales at the wholesale level rose 1.9% in November after a revised 2.6% increase in October.The Mortgage Bankers Association said its seasonally adjusted composite index of...
ECONOMIC UPDATES
Monday, January 10
Last Week in the News The Institute for Supply Management reported that the monthly composite index of manufacturing activity rose to 57 in December after reaching 56.6 in November. A reading above 50 signals expansion. It was the 17th straight month of expansion.Total construction spending ro...
ECONOMIC UPDATES
Monday, January 03
Last Week in the News Retail sales rose 1% for the week ending December 25, according to the ICSC-Goldman Sachs index. On a year-over-year basis, retailers saw sales increase 4.8%, the highest rate since April.The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller 20-city housing price index — on a non-season...