Kyle Glazier

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.

WASHINGTON — Seasonally adjusted initial jobless claims rose to 362,000 in the week ended March 3, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 354,000, originally reported as 351,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

Seasonally adjusted initial jobless claims rose to 362,000 in the week ended March 3, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 354,000, originally reported as 351,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

A dispute over the revenue projections for the Dulles Toll Road provides the backdrop for a hearing the Fairfax County, Va., Board of Supervisors is preparing to hold March 20 to decide whether to approve the next phase of construction on an associated rail line.

WASHINGTON — U.S. non-farm productivity edged up at a 0.9% annualized rate in the fourth quarter of 2011, after rising a revised 1.8% in the third quarter, the Labor Department reported Wednesday.

Consumer credit increased by $17.8 billion, or 8.6%, in January to $2.512.3 trillion, the Federal Reserve reported Wednesday.