Gary Siegel

The U.S. labor market recorded 2.3% fewer mass layoff actions in July, with the number of mass terminations falling to 1,609 events on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.

NEW YORK - Employers took 1,609 mass layoff actions in July that resulted in 143,703 lost jobs, seasonally adjusted, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.

NEW YORK – Demand for petroleum increased 3.8% in July, compared to a year ago, even as demand for gasoline slowed, according to the American Petroleum Institute.

The Philadelphia region's manufacturing sector weakened in August as the general business conditions index tumbled to negative 7.7 from positive 5.1 in July, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Report on Business indicates.

The composite index of leading economic indicators grew 0.1% in July, the Conference Board reported Thursday.

Expansion is the most likely possibility going forward, despite the softening economy, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis president James Bullard said Thursday.

NEW YORK – Although the macroeconomic outlook is softer, expansion is the most likely possibility going forward, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard said Thursday.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department said it will auction $25 billion year bills on Tuesday, August 24.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department said it will auction $7 billion 29-year six-month inflation-indexed notes on Monday, Aug. 23.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department said it will auction $37 billion two-year notes on Tuesday, August 24 and $36 billion five-year notes on Wednesday, August 25.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department said it will auction $29 billion seven-year notes on Thursday, August 26.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department said Thursday it will auction $30 billion 91-day bills and $30 billion 182-day discount bills Monday.

NEW YORK – The region's manufacturing sector weakened in August, as the general business conditions index slipped to negative 7.7 from positive 5.1 in July, this month’s Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Report on Business indicates.

NEW YORK - The composite index of Leading Economic Indicators grew 0.1% in July, the Conference Board reported today.

The Treasury Department Wednesday sold $25 billion of 56-day cash management bills, dated Aug. 19, due Oct. 14, at a 0.145% high tender rate.

Housing finance agency delinquencies declined in the first quarter for the first time since loan performance began to deteriorate in the second quarter of 2008, Standard & Poor's reported Wednesday.

Mortgage loan application volume surged 13% on a seasonally adjusted basis as historically low interest rates spurred refinancing activity during the week ended Aug. 13, according to data released Wednesday by the Mortgage Bankers Association.

NEW YORK - Housing finance agency delinquencies, while still high, declined in the first quarter of 2010, the first time improvement since overall performance of loans began to deteriorate in the second quarter of 2008, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said in a report, which suggests default rates could rise in the second quarter.

NEW YORK - The Treasury Department today sold $25 billion 56-day cash management bills, dated Aug. 19, due Oct. 14, at a 0.145% high tender rate.

NEW YORK – Mortgage loan application volume surged 13% on a seasonally adjusted basis in the week ended Aug. 13, as refinancings soared 17.1% to their highest level since the week ended May 15, 2009, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) said Wednesday.