Patrick Temple-West

WASHINGTON - Consumer prices increased 0.5% in February, the largest gain in 20 months, as commodity prices accelerated, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

WASHINGTON - Initial claims dropped 16,000 to 385,000 for the week ending March 12, as the four-week moving average for initial claims dropped to the lowest level in more than two years, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

WASHINGTON — U.S. housing starts sank to a seasonally adjusted 479,000 in February, the lowest in 23 months, as permits hit a record low, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. current account deficit dropped to $113.3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2010, down for the first time in 15 months, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.

Lexington County School District No. 1 expects to competitively sell $35.9 million of qualified school construction bonds Thursday.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. current account deficit dropped to $113.3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2010, down for the first time in 15 months, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.

WASHINGTON - U.S. housing starts sank to a seasonally adjusted 479,000 in February, the lowest level in 23 months, as building permits dropped to a record low, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., on Tuesday unveiled legislation for a national infrastructure bank that could finance up to $10 billion of projects in each of its first two years.

WASHINGTON — The economic recovery is on “firmer footing” but the Federal Reserve held its benchmark interest rate between zero and 0.25% and did not change its $600 billion Treasury purchase program, the Federal Open Market Committee announced Tuesday.

WASHINGTON – The economic recovery “is on a firmer footing” and the Federal Reserve held its benchmark interest rate between zero and 0.25% and did not change its $600 billion Treasury purchase program, the Federal Open Market Committee announced Tuesday.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation announced late Friday that it is opening up the $2.4 billion of federal high-speed rail money that was rejected by Florida Gov. Rick Scott to a competitive bidding process for states willing to take on new projects.

WASHINGTON — Business inventories increased 0.9% in January, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

WASHINGTON — Retail sales increased by a seasonally adjusted 1.0% in February, the largest gain in four months, as shoppers scooped up autos and merchandise goods, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

WASHINGTON – Business inventories increased 0.9% in January, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

WASHINGTON - Retail sales increased by a seasonally adjusted 1.0% in February, the largest gain in four months, as shoppers scooped up autos and merchandise goods, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

WASHINGTON — Fitch Ratings warned on Wednesday that grant anticipation revenue vehicle bonds, known as Garvees, face heightened uncertainty as Congress struggles to reauthorize transportation spending.

WASHINGTON — The federal government posted a record $222.5 billion deficit in February, the Treasury Department reported Thursday.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. international trade deficit jumped to a seasonally adjusted $46.3 billion in January, the biggest trade imbalance since June, as petroleum imports were the largest in more than two years, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.

WASHINGTON – The federal government posted a $222.5 billion deficit in February, the largest-ever monthly budget deficit, the Treasury Department reported Thursday.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. international trade deficit jumped to a seasonally adjusted $46.3 billion in January, the biggest trade imbalance since June, as petroleum imports were the largest in more than two years, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.