Kyle Glazier

The producer price index rose 0.4% in February on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

Seasonally adjusted initial jobless claims fell to 351,000 for the week ending March 10, a decrease of 14,000 from the previous week's revised level of 365,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

WASHINGTON — The Senate voted 74 to 22 on Wednesday to approve a two-year, $109 billion highway reauthorization bill that would increase the limit for bank-qualified bonds to $30 million from $10 million.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. current account deficit increased to $124.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.The increase comes after a third-quarter deficit of $107.6 billion, revised downward from the originally reported figure of $110.3 billion.

The U.S. current account deficit increased to $124.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.

WASHINGTON — The Senate narrowly approved a proposal to prohibit the use of private-activity bond financing on certain toll roads as they inched toward final passage of a two-year, $109 billion highway reauthorization bill Tuesday.

WASHINGTON — Business inventories were up 0.7% to $1,569.0 billion in January, while sales rose 0.4% to $1,237.2 billion, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday.

WASHINGTON — Retail sales were up 1.1% in February after rising 0.6% in January, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday.

WASHINGTON — The Federal Open Market Committee 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 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.

Business inventories were up 0.7% to $1,569.0 billion in January, while sales rose 0.4% to $1,237.2 billion, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday.

Retail sales were up 1.1% in February after rising 0.6% in January, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday.

WASHINGTON — The federal government’s budget deficit was $231.7 billion in February, up $9.2 billion or 4% from the $222.5 billion deficit a year ago, the Treasury Department reported Monday.

The federal government’s budget deficit was $231.7 billion in February, up $9.2 billion or 4% from the $222.5 billion deficit a year ago, the Treasury Department reported Monday.

WASHINGTON — The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority plans to price $445 million of tax-exempt public utility revenue bonds Tuesday and Wednesday, as part of a $3.8 billion plan to improve water and sewer infrastructure, according to a preliminary official statement.

WASHINGTON — Sales of merchant wholesalers were down 0.1% to $413.1 billion in January, following a revised 1.4% gain the previous month, while inventories increased 0.4% in the month, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. international trade deficit was $52.6 billion for January, a 4.37% increase from the revised $50.4 billion deficit for December, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

Sales of merchant wholesalers were down 0.1% to $413.1 billion in January, following a revised 1.4% gain the previous month, while inventories increased 0.4% in the month, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

The U.S. international trade deficit was $52.6 billion for January, a 4.37% increase from the revised $50.4 billion deficit for December, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

WASHINGTON — Maryland issued $738.4 million of general obligation bonds this week, achieving its second-lowest interest rate since 1988, according to Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp.