The employment cost index rose 0.5% for the three-month period ending in December, after increasing a seasonally adjusted 0.4% for the third quarter, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.
For the 12-month period ending in December 2009, the index rose 1.5%, far below the 2.6% gain during 2008.
The 0.5% quarterly gain for the fourth quarter of 2009 was just above the 0.4% increase predicted in a median estimate by economists polled by IFR Markets.
Fitch Ratings said the negative outlook on the BB-plus rating reflects Miami Jewish's thin operating profile.
The new-issue calendar will be a "good test to see if the higher absolute yields can pull buyers off the sidelines or if underwriters need to widen spreads significantly enough to reprice the entire market to clear the deals," according to Birch Creek strategists.
The state of emergency will let the governor use the central government's rainy-day fund to provide money to WAPA that semi-autonomous agencies of his government owe the authority. WAPA will use the money to make payments to bondholders and other creditors starting Tuesday.
"The upgrade is supported by strengthened debt service coverage ratios due to better than expected recovery from the pandemic," Fitch said.
S&P affirmed the state's AA issuer credit rating, citing healthy reserves and plans to increase permanent fund totals to mitigate revenue fluctuations.
The top five bond financings have an average dollar volume of more than $1.9 billion.
