Gary Siegel

NEW YORK - Manufacturing activity in the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s region “accelerated rapidly in March, posting a record high for the second straight month. Expectations moderated slightly from last month, but still remained solid. Price indexes for raw materials reached historically high levels, and more firms indicated plans to pass cost increases on to customers,” according to the bank’s monthly manufacturing survey, released Thursday.

NEW YORK – The seasonally adjusted Milwaukee Index climbed to 66 in March from 63 in February, according to the Institute for Supply Management-Milwaukee.

NEW YORK - The Chicago Purchasing Managers’ Business Barometer slid to 70.6 in March from 71.2 in February, the National Association of Purchasing Management-Chicago said Thursday.

NEW YORK – The Midwest Economy Index rose to positive 0.35 in February from positive 0.19 in January, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, as gains in the manufacturing sector helped pull growth above its historical trend.

NEW YORK – New York City business activity expanded at its slowest pace in three months, the Institute for Supply Management-New York’s Report on Business current business conditions index indicated.

About 4,454,500 online job postings appeared on leading Internet job boards in March, an increase of 208,800 from February, the Conference Board reported Wednesday.

Announced layoff intentions fell to 41,528 in March from 50,702 in February, job placement firm Challenger, Gray, and Christmas Inc. said Wednesday.

The ADP National Employment Report predicted a private-sector payroll increase of 201,000 in Friday’s March jobs report.

The Treasury Department Wednesday auctioned $29 billion of seven-year notes, with a 2 7/8% coupon, a 2.895% high yield, a price of 99.874094.

With the crisis over and the economy recovering, policymakers need to shift their vision to see the long-term consequences of their short-term goals and begin removing policy accommodation, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City president Thomas Hoenig reiterated Wednesday.

NEW YORK – With the crisis over and the economy recovering, policymakers need to shift their vision to see the long-term consequences of their short-term goals and begin removing policy accommodation, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City President Thomas Hoenig reiterated Wednesday.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department auctioned $29 billion of seven-year notes, with a 2 7/8% coupon, a 2.895% high yield, a price of 99.874094.

NEW YORK – About 4,454,500 online job postings appeared on leading Internet job boards in March, an increase of 208,800 from February, The Conference Board reported Wednesday.

The consumer confidence index fell to 63.4 in March from an upwardly revised 72.0 last month, the Conference Board reported Tuesday.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department auctioned $35 billion of five-year notes, with a 2 1/4% coupon, a 2.260% high yield, a price of 99.952972.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department Tuesday auctioned $40 billion of four-week bills at a 0.045% high yield, a price of 99.996500.

NEW YORK - The consumer confidence index fell to 63.4 in March from an upwardly revised 72.0 last month, The Conference Board reported Tuesday.

Texas factory activity, as measured by the production index, rose sharply in March, according to the monthly business activity survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, released Monday.

Pending home sales climbed 2.1% to 90.8 in February, according to a report released Monday by the National Association of Realtors.

WASHINGTON — Personal income rose 0.3% in February and consumption increased 0.7%, above economists’ estimates and the largest increase in four months, as energy costs increased, the Commerce Department reported Monday.