Kyle Glazier

Real gross domestic product increased at an annual rate of 2.2% in the first quarter of 2012, according to the advance estimate released by the Commerce Department Friday.

Witnesses representing public power providers who testified before the House Committee on Natural Resources Thursday expressed grave concerns that Department of Energy proposals would increase costs and fundamentally alter the public power market.

WASHINGTON — Seasonally adjusted initial jobless claims declined 1,000 to 388,000 in the week ending April 21, while continuing claims rose 3,000 to 3.315 million in the previous week, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

Seasonally adjusted initial jobless claims declined to 388,000 for the week ending April 21, while continuing claims rose to 3.315 million for the previous week, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

WASHINGTON — New orders for manufactured durable goods decreased 4.2% in March, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. Orders fell a downwardly revised 1.9% increase in February.

WASHINGTON — The Federal Open Market Committee announced Wednesday that it kept the federal funds rate target at zero to 0.25%, saying it anticipates economic conditions to warrant exceptionally low levels for the rate at least through late 2014.

The Federal Open Market Committee announced Wednesday that it kept the federal funds rate target at zero to 0.25%, saying it anticipates economic conditions to warrant exceptionally low levels for the rate at least through late 2014.

New orders for manufactured durable goods decreased $8.8 billion or 4.2% to $202.6 billion in March, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.

WASHINGTON — The District of Columbia will price $320 million of income tax-secured tax-exempt bonds next week to refund three previous debt issues, district officials said.

WASHINGTON — Sales of new single-family houses fell 7.1% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 328,000 in March, the Commerce Department said Tuesday.

Sales of new single-family houses fell 7.1% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 328,000 in March, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday.

Market participants are stepping up their efforts in support of muni-friendly provisions in the Senate highway bill, as that body prepares to head to conference with the House to resolve differences in legislation each chamber has passed providing funding for the nation's surface transportation programs.

WASHINGTON — Existing home sales fell 2.6% in March to a seasonally adjusted 4.48 million-unit rate, after an upwardly revised 4.60 million rate in February, originally reported as 4.59 million units, the National Association of Realtors announced Thursday.

Existing home sales fell 2.6% in March to a seasonally adjusted 4.48 million-unit rate, after an upwardly revised 4.60 million rate in February, originally reported as 4.59 million units, the National Association of Realtors announced Thursday.

A Senate subcommittee hearing on bridge and tunnel tolls turned into a battleground as state and authority officials defended rising tolls and opposed legislation sponsored by subcommittee chairman Frank Lautenberg, warning it could cripple their abilities to raise revenue and finance projects.

WASHINGTON — House Republican leaders pushed through another extension of the nation's highway programs Wednesday evening, a move politicians and industry advocates said could clear the way for a conference with the Senate to produce a bill through 2013.

WASHINGTON — Virginia won applause from Moody's Investors Service this week following an overhaul of its pension system, but neighboring Maryland received flak as the credit rating agency warned its proposed budget cuts could harm the credit of local governments.

Housing starts fell 5.8% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 654,000 in March from the downwardly-revised 694,000 for February, originally reported as 698,000, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday.

Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell announced that the commonwealth has obtained all of the funds needed to proceed with its Elizabeth River Crossings project, including the full $300 million that the Virginia Department of Transportation has committed to the $2.1 billion public-private partnership.

WASHINGTON — Business inventories were up 0.6% in February, while sales rose 0.7%, the Commerce Department reported Monday.