Gary Siegel

NEW YORK – The U.S. recession, which started in December 2007 ended in June 2009 and any future downturn would signal a new recession, according to the Business Cycle Dating Committee of the National Bureau of Economic Research.

NEW YORK - Builders’ confidence in the market for new single-family homes remained at its lowest level since March 2009, as the National Association of Home Builders' housing market index - a monthly gauge of builder sentiment – was steady at 13 in September from an unrevised 13 in August.

The University of Michigan’s preliminary September consumer sentiment index reading was 66.6, compared to the final August 68.9, the preliminary August 69.6 reading, and the final July 67.8, according to market sources.

NEW YORK - The University of Michigan's preliminary September consumer sentiment index reading was 66.6, compared to the final August 68.9, the preliminary August 69.6 reading, and the final July 67.8, according to market sources.

Manufacturing activity in the Philadelphia area unexpectedly stayed negative in September, as the general business conditions index narrowed to negative 0.7 from a previous reading of negative 7.7, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia monthly report on business.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department said it will auction $25 billion year bills on Tuesday, September 21.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department said Thursday it will auction $29 billion 91-day bills and $29 billion 182-day discount bills Monday.

NEW YORK – The region's manufacturing sector was nearly flat in September, as the general business conditions index climbed to negative 0.7 from negative 7.7 in August, this month’s Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Report on Business indicates.

Mortgage applications fell 8.9% on a seasonally adjusted basis the week ended Sept. 10, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported Wednesday.

A gauge of New York-area manufacturing activity fell more than economists expected in September, declining to a 14-month-low of 4.14, according to a report Wednesday by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department today sold $25 billion 57-day cash management bills, dated Sept. 16, due Nov. 12, at a 0.145% high tender rate.

NEW YORK - The Empire State Manufacturing Survey showed “conditions held relatively steady in New York's manufacturing sector in September,” the Federal Reserve Bank of New York today reported, as the general business conditions index declined to 4.14 in the month from 7.10 in August, the Fed reported.

NEW YORK – Mortgage applications dropped 8.9% on a seasonally adjusted basis in the week ended September 10, while plunging 27.4% on an unadjusted basis, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported in its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey, released Wednesday.

The Treasury Department Tuesday auctioned $30 billion of four-week bills at a 0.100% high and a price of 99.992222. The coupon equivalent was 0.101%. The bid-to-cover ratio was 3.91.

Weekly chain store sales climbed 0.8% in the week ending Sept. 11, while year-over-year sales were up 2.6%, according to the ICSC-Goldman Sachs Weekly Chain Store Sales Snapshot released Tuesday.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department Tuesday auctioned $30 billion of four-week bills at a 0.100% high yield, a price of 99.992222.

NEW YORK – Weekly retail sales rose 2.9% in the second week of September, after a 3.0% gain in the first week, the Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index showed.

NEW YORK – Weekly chain store sales climbed 0.8% in the week ending September 11, while year-over-year sales were up 2.6%, according to the ICSC-Goldman Sachs Weekly Chain Store Sales Snapshot released Tuesday.

Tender rates for the Treasury Department’s latest 91-day and 182-day discount bills were higher Monday, as the three-months incurred a 0.140% high rate, up from 0.135% the previous week, and the six-months incurred a 0.190% high rate, up from 0.180%.

NEW YORK - Tender rates for the Treasury Department’s latest 91-day and 182-day discount bills were higher, as the three-months incurred a 0.140% high rate, up from 0.135% the prior week, and the six-months incurred a 0.190% high rate, up from 0.180% the week before.