Gary Siegel

NEW YORK - The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for May improved to negative 0.37 from a revised negative 0.56 reading in April, while the three-month moving average (CFNAI-MA3) slipped to negative 0.19 in May, from April’s revised negative 0.15, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reported Thursday.

With federal debt reaching levels of GDP not seen since the end of World War II, and the retirement of the baby-boomers escalating, the long-term budget outlook is "daunting," the Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday.

The term "extended period" means the Federal Open Market Committee will not take any action on rates or its balance sheet for "at least two to three meetings," Federal Reserve Board chairman Ben Bernanke said Wednesday.

NEW YORK – The term “extended period” means the Federal Open Market Committee will not take any action on rates or its balance sheet for “at least two to three meetings,” Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke said Wednesday.

NEW YORK – With federal debt reaching levels of GDP not seen since the end of World War II, and the retirement of the Baby Boomers escalating, the long-term budget outlook is “daunting,” the Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday.

The Treasury Department Tuesday auctioned $28 billion of four-week bills at a 0.005% high yield and a price of 99.999611. The coupon equivalent was 0.005%.

The Federal Reserve should formally announce a "commitment to an explicit 'mandate-consistent' rate of inflation that it uses as its long-run objective for its policy deliberation," the Shadow Open Market Committee said Tuesday.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department Tuesday auctioned $28 billion of four-week bills at a 0.005% high yield, a price of 99.999611.

NEW YORK – The Federal Reserve should formally announce a “commitment to an explicit ‘mandate-consistent’ rate of inflation that it uses as its long run objective for its policy deliberation,” the Shadow Open Market Committee said Tuesday.

Tender rates for the Treasury Department's latest 91-day and 182-day discount bills were lower, as the three-months incurred a 0.035% high rate, down from 0.050% the previous week, and the six-months incurred a 0.100% high rate, off from 0.105%.

NEW YORK - Tender rates for the Treasury Department’s latest 91-day and 182-day discount bills were lower, as the three-months incurred a 0.035% high rate, down from 0.050% the prior week, and the six-months incurred a 0.100% high rate, off from 0.105% the week before.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department said Monday it will sell $28 billion of four-week discount bills Tuesday.

The University of Michigan’s preliminary June consumer sentiment index reading was 71.8, compared to the final May 74.3, the preliminary May 72.4, and the final April 69.8, according to market sources.

The composite index of leading economic indicators grew 0.8% in May, the Conference Board reported Friday.

NEW YORK - The composite index of Leading Economic Indicators grew 0.8% in May, the Conference Board reported Friday.

NEW YORK - The University of Michigan's preliminary June consumer sentiment index reading was 71.8, compared to the final May 74.3 reading, preliminary May 72.4 reading, and the final April 69.8, according to market sources.

The Philadelphia region's manufacturing sector contracted in June, as the general business conditions index slumped down to negative 7.7 from positive 3.9 in May, according to this month's Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Report on Business.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department said Thursday it will auction $7 billion 29-year 8-month inflation-indexed notes on Thursday, June 23.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department said Thursday it will auction $27 billion 91-day bills and $24 billion 182-day discount bills Monday.

NEW YORK – The region's manufacturing sector contracted in June, as the general business conditions index slumped to negative 7.7 from positive 3.9 in May, this month’s Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Report on Business indicates.