Dennis Moore

WASHINGTON — Business inventories rose 0.3% in June on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

Business inventories rose 0.3% in June on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Commerce Department reported Friday. Sales were up 0.4%. The inventories to sales ratio was 1.28 for the month.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. trade deficit rose to $53.1 billion in June, up 4.4% from the revised $50.8 billion in May, the Commerce Department reported Thursday. It was the biggest deficit since the $59.5 billion shortfall posted in October 2008.

The U.S. trade deficit rose to $53.1 billion in June, up 4.4% from the revised $50.8 billion in May, the Commerce Department reported Thursday. It was the biggest deficit since the $59.5 billion shortfall posted in October 2008.

WASHINGTON — The federal government posted a $129.4 billion budget deficit for July, down 22% from the $165 billion deficit of July 2010.

WASHINGTON — Wholesale inventories rose 0.6% in June on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. That followed a revised 1.7% rise in May.

The federal government posted a $129.4 billion budget deficit for July, down 22% from the $165 billion deficit of July 2010.

Wholesale inventories rose 0.6% in June on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. That followed a revised 1.7% rise in May.

The Federal Open Market Committee decided to leave its target rate unchanged at 0.0%-0.25% but said that “downside risks to the economic outlook have increased” and economic conditions “are likely to warrant exceptionally low levels for the federal funds rate at least through mid-2013.”

The Federal Open Market Committee decided to leave its target rate unchanged at 0.0-0.25% but said “downside risks to the economic outlook have increased” and economic conditions “are likely to warrant exceptionally low levels for the federal funds rate at least through mid 2013.”

Thousands of workers at the Federal Aviation Administration and airport construction projects around the country will be able to return to work this week because of a short-term funding extension.

Employers in the United States added 117,000 total jobs in July and 154,000 private workers, as the unemployment rate slid to 9.1%, on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Labor Department reported Friday.

U.S. employers added 117,000 total jobs in July and 154,000 private workers, as the unemployment rate slid to 9.1%, on a seasonally adjusted basis the Labor Department reported Friday.

Initial jobless claims fell to 400,000 for the week ending July 30 on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Continuing claims for the week ending July 23 rose to 3.730 million

Initial jobless claims fell to 400,000 for the week ending July 30 on a seasonally adjusted basis the Labor Department reported Thursday. Continuing claims for the week ending July 23 rose to 3.730 million

WASHINGTON - Virginia is using a public-private partnership to put another tunnel under the Elizabeth River between Norfolk and Portsmouth. Including improvements to existing tunnels and some surface road building, the project is budgeted at $1.9 billion.

New orders for manufacturers fell 0.8% in June on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.

New orders for manufacturers fell 0.8% in June on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. Excluding transportation, new orders rose 0.1%. The June orders followed a revised 0.6% increase and a zero per cent change in ex-transportation orders for May.

Construction spending rose by a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 0.2% in June, the Commerce Department reported Monday, driven up by the increase in business-related building.

Construction spending rose by a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 0.2% in June, the Commerce Department reported Monday, driven up by the increase in business-related building. June's number was down from a revised 0.3% increase rate in May. The dollar value of June construction was the highest since December 2010.