Gary Siegel

U.S. factory orders grew 1.1% in December, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

The most important of the Federal Open Market Committee’s three announcements after its latest policy meeting was that it couldn’t “specify an exact goal for employment” since nonmonetary factors have a great impact on labor markets, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President and CEO Richard W. Fisher said Thursday.

New York City business activity expanded in January at its fastest rate in eight months, as the current business conditions index improved to 60.1 in January from a revised 51.7 in December, according to the Institute for Supply Management-New York’s Report on Business index.

While the economy has gradually recovered over the past two and a half years, albeit at a “frustratingly slow” rate, such expansion leaves it vulnerable to shocks, and the outlook is still uncertain and requires “close monitoring of economic developments,” Federal Reserve Board chairman Ben Bernanke said Thursday.

The Treasury Department said Thursday it will auction $33 billion 91-day bills and $31 billion 182-day discount bills Monday.

The Treasury Department said it will auction $26 billion year bills on Tuesday, February 7.

While the economy has gradually recovered over the past two and a half years, albeit at a “frustratingly slow” rate, such expansion leaves it vulnerable to shocks, and the outlook is still uncertain, and requires “close monitoring of economic developments,” Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke said Thursday.

New York City business activity expanded in January, at its fastest rate in eight months, as the current business conditions index improved to 60.1 in January from a revised 51.7 in December, the Institute for Supply Management-New York’s Report on Business index indicated.

The Treasury Department said it will offer $72 billion of securities to refund $49.6 billion of securities maturing on Feb. 15 and raise $22.4 billion of new cash.

The overall economy grew for the 32nd straight time, while the manufacturing sector expanded for the 30th time, the Institute for Supply Management reported Wednesday.

The nation needs to be aware of inflation while monetary policy remains “very accommodative,” Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia president Charles Plosser said Wednesday.

About 4,383,400 online job postings appeared on leading Internet job boards in January, an increase of 61,300 from December, The Conference Board reported Wednesday.

The overall economy grew for the thirty-second straight time, while the manufacturing sector expanded for the thirtieth time, the Institute for Supply Management reported Wednesday.

The seasonally adjusted Milwaukee Report on Business gained to 58.40 in December from 57.77 in December, according to the Institute for Supply Management-Milwaukee.

The Treasury Department said it will offer $72 billion of securities to refund approximately $49.6 billion of securities maturing on February 15, andl raise approximately $22.4 billion of new cash.

The nation needs to be aware of the possibility that inflation may creep up while monetary policy remains “very accommodative,” Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President and Chief Executive Officer Charles I. Plosser said Wednesday.

The Midwest economy index improved to positive 0.09 in December from a revised negative 0.13 in November, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the first time in five months growth was above its historical trend.

The consumer confidence index slid to 61.1 in January from an upwardly revised 64.8 last month, the Conference Board reported Tuesday.

The Chicago Purchasing Managers’ Business Barometer dipped to 60.2 in January from 62.2 in December, the National Association of Purchasing Management-Chicago said Tuesday.

The Treasury Department Tuesday auctioned $33 billion of four-week bills at a 0.050% high yield, a price of 99.996111.