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Housing

Sales of existing U.S. homes jumped 12.3% in December over November's levels, the National Association of Realtors said. December's existing-home sales rose to a seasonally-adjusted annualized rate of 5.28 million.
This provides an encouraging end to the worst year since 1997, as the collapse in house prices and a wave of foreclosures depressed activity over the 12-month period.

Jan 20 · 3:40:00 PM
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by Larry Etter

Housing

The Commerce Department today reported that new-home sales slipped 2.2% to an annual pace of 308,000, seasonally adjusted, which is the lowest rate since the government began tracking the data in 1963. The rate of sales is down 13% compared to February 2009
Bad weather may have impacted sales.

Mar 24 · 11:58:00 AM
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by Larry Etter

Housing

Sales of previously owned U.S. homes fell slightly in February, The National Association of Realtors said. Sales fell 0.6 percent month-over-month to an annual rate of 5.02 million units, the third straight month of declines in sales. January's sales were unrevised at 5.05 million units.
This points to the fragile nature of the housing market's recovery

Mar 23 · 11:16:00 AM
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by Larry Etter

CPI

Tthe Consumer Price Index was unchanged in February, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the index increased 2.1 percent before seasonal adjustment.
Monthly consumer price inflation hasn't been this low since March of last year

Mar 18 · 11:36:00 AM · Source: Company Press Release
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by Larry Etter

Unemployment

Less Americans filed first-time claims for jobless benefits last week for the third consecutive time, the Labor Department reported today. The advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 457,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's unrevised figure of 462,000. The 4-week moving average was 471,250, a decrease of 4,250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 475,500.
This is a sign the labor market is gradually improving along with the economy.

Mar 18 · 11:33:00 AM · Source: Company Press Release
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by Larry Etter

Producer Price Index

Producer prices fell more steeply than expected in February as energy costs fell, giving the Federal Reserve leeway to hold interest rates exceptionally low for an extended period as it has promised. The Labor Department on Wednesday said the index for prices paid at the farm and factory gate fell 0.6 percent, the largest decline since July, after increasing 1.4 percent in January. Even excluding volatile energy and food costs, core producer prices rose just 0.1 percent last month.
Price producer price pressure is pretty moderate.

Mar 17 · 11:01:00 AM
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by Larry Etter

Retail Sales

Retail sales rose in February, the government said Friday, surprising economists who expected a decline. The Commerce Department said total retail sales edged up 0.3% to $355.5 billion last month. Economists surveyed by Briefing.com had anticipated that February sales would drop 0.2%.
February's increase showed that Americans were still making it to the stores despite the snow and cold weather last month and customers were splurging on electronics for the Super Bowl, said Chris Donnelly, a senior executive at consulting firm Accenture. February retail sales jumped 3.9% compared to the same month in 2009.

Mar 12 · 12:28:00 PM · Source: CNN Money
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by Michael Oliveto

Unemployment

The U.S. Labor Department said today that in the week ending Feb. 27 the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 469,000, a decrease of 29,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 498,000. The 4-week moving average was 470,750, a decrease of 3,500 from the previous week's revised average of 474,250.
This points to an improvement in the labor market that is slow to develop.

Mar 4 · 9:18:00 AM
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by Larry Etter


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