Dennis Moore

With support from the president, members of both parties in both houses of Congress, think tanks and financial institutions, creation of a national infrastructure bank might seem like a slam dunk.

WASHINGTON — New home sales fell to a 295,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate in August, down 2.3% from July, the Commerce Department reported Monday. Sales of new homes have now fallen for four months in a row.

New home sales fell to a 295,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate in August, down 2.3% from July, the Commerce Department reported Monday. Sales of new homes have now fallen for four months in a row.

WASHINGTON — Initial jobless claims fell 9,000 to 423,000 on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending Sept. 17, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Continuing claims fell to 3.727 million for the week ending Sept. 10.

Initial jobless claims fell 9,000 to 423,000 on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending Sept. 17, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Continuing claims fell to 3.727 million for the week ending Sept. 10.

WASHINGTON — Groundbreaking for new homes fell to a 571,000-unit seasonally adjusted annual rate in August, down 5.0% from July. Building permits were up 3.2% to 620,000.

Groundbreaking for new homes fell to a 571,000 unit seasonally adjusted annual rate in August, down 5.0% from July. Building permits were up 3.2% to 620,000.

WASHINGTON - Virginia has received conditional approval to put tolls on Interstate 95 under the federal government's Interstate Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Pilot Program.

President Obama has signed the bill extending Federal Aviation Administration and highway funding.

WASHINGTON — President Obama has signed the bill extending Federal Aviation Administration and highway spending.

WASHINGTON — Initial jobless claims rose to 428,000 on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending Sept. 10, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Continuing claims fell to 3.726 million for the week ending Sept. 3.

WASHINGTON — Consumer prices rose 0.4% in August on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Labor Department reported Thursday, following an unchanged 0.5% increase in July. Core consumer prices, excluding food and energy, climbed 0.2% in August, the same as their July increase.

Consumer prices went up 0.4% in August on a seasonally adjusted basis the Labor Department reported Thursday, following an unchanged 0.5% increase in July. Core consumer prices, excluding food and energy rose 0.2% in August, the same as their July increase.

Initial jobless claims rose to 428,000 on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending Sept. 10, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Continuing claims fell to 3.726 million for the week ending Sept. 3.

WASHINGTON - Transportation industry and government groups have not found a lot to like in President Obama's American Jobs Act, and they are particularly unhappy about the proposed infrastructure bank.

WASHINGTON — Business inventories rose 0.4% in July on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. Sales were up 0.7%. The inventories-to-sales ratio for the month was 1.27.

WASHINGTON — Retail sales held steady in August, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday, the slowest sales pace since a 0.2% decline in June 2010. Sales excluding motor vehicles and parts rose 0.1% for the month.

Business inventories rose 0.4% in July on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. Sales were up 0.7%. The inventories to sales ratio for the month was 1.27.

Retail sales held steady in August, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday, the slowest sales pace since a 0.2% decline in June 2010. Sales excluding motor vehicles and parts rose 0.1% for the month.

WASHINGTON — The federal government posted a $134.2 billion deficit for August, which because of special factors was $44 billion or 48% larger than the $90.5 billion gap of August 2010.