Patrick Temple-West

WASHINGTON — State governors meeting in Washington this weekend criticized federal lawmakers for talking about possible legislation to allow states to file for bankruptcy and urged them to stop, warning the talks are hurting state finances.

Two professors are proposing that states and localities create a national nonprofit institution that would provide issuers with independent advice on bond financings, help them disclose standardized information, and take other steps to improve liquidity in the muni market.

WASHINGTON — Real gross domestic product expanded 2.8% at an annual rate in the fourth quarter, revised sharply lower from the initial estimate of 3.2% growth released last month, as consumer spending and government spending were revised down, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

WASHINGTON – Real gross domestic product expanded 2.8% at an annual rate in the fourth quarter, revised sharply lower from the initial estimate of 3.2% growth released last month, as consumer spending and government spending were revised down, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

U.S. mayors descended on Washington this week to combat the budget cuts approved by the House last week that would threaten certain federal programs for local governments, especially the community development block grant program.

WASHINGTON — New home sales fell 12.6% in January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 284,000, as the median sales price declined and the supply increased, according to Commerce Department report Thursday.

WASHINGTON — Durable goods orders rose 2.7% in January, driven by orders for aircraft, as durable orders excluding transportation dropped by 3.6%, the largest amount in a year, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.

WASHINGTON - New home sales fell 12.6% in January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 284,000, as the median sales price declined and the supply increased, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.

WASHINGTON – Durable goods orders rose 2.7% in January, driven by orders for aircraft, as durable orders excluding transportation dropped by 3.6%, the largest amount in a year, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.

Existing home sales increased 2.7% in January to a seasonally adjusted 5.36 million as the median sale price fell to the lowest level in almost nine years, the National Association of Realtors reported Wednesday.

Rep. Bill Owens, D-Camden, has introduced a bill to limit North Carolina's bonding authority to $138.5 million — or just 11% of what the state issued last year — in fiscal 2012 and 2013.

WASHINGTON – Existing home sales increased 2.7% in January to a seasonally adjusted 5.36 million as the median sale price fell to the lowest level in almost nine years, the National Association of Realtors reported Wednesday.

WASHINGTON — Supporters of the Florida high-speed rail project are scrambling to come up with options to preserve it after Gov. Rick Scott rejected $2.4 billion of federal funding last week.

WASHINGTON — Initial jobless claims increased 25,000 to 410,000 in the week ended Feb. 12, the first increase in three weeks, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

WASHINGTON — The consumer price index rose 0.4% in January as food costs increased by the largest amount in 28 months and gasoline prices gained for the seventh straight month, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

WASHINGTON - Initial jobless claims increased 25,000 to 410,000 in the week ending Feb. 12, the first increase in three weeks, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

WASHINGTON - Consumer prices rose 0.4% in January as food prices increased by the largest amount in 28 months and gasoline prices gained for the seventh straight month, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

House members have proposed almost 600 amendments be added to the continuing resolution needed to keep the federal government operating for the remainder of fiscal 2011, including additional spending cuts that could jeopardize the Los Angeles County Metro extension and other transportation projects.

WASHINGTON — Industrial production slipped 0.1% in January as utilities’ output declined with the return of more seasonable weather, the Federal Reserve reported Wednesday.

WASHINGTON — New housing starts jumped 14.6% to a seasonally adjusted 596,000 in January, the highest level in five months, as building permits dropped following a spike in December permits because of code changes in four states, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.