Patrick Temple-West

WASHINGTON — U.S. nonfarm productivity increased 1.9% in the third quarter while business unit labor costs unexpectedly declined 0.1%, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

WASHINGTON - U.S. nonfarm productivity increased1.9% in the third quarter while business unit labor costs unexpectedly declined 0.1%, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

WASHINGTON - Initial jobless claims increased 20,000 to 457,000 for the week ended Oct. 30, the first increase in three weeks, the Labor Department reported.

WASHINGTON — Factory orders increased 2.1% in September, their largest gain in eight months, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.

The Federal Open Market Committee announced Wednesday that the Federal Reserve will purchase $600 billion of longer term Treasuries in the first half of 2011 and $850 to $900 billion through the second half.

Charleston’s water and sewer bonds on Tuesday received an upgrade to AAA from AA-plus by Standard & Poor’s based on strong financing operations.

NEW YORK - The Federal Reserve will purchase $600 billion of longer-term Treasuries in the first half of 2011, the Federal Open Market Committee announced Wednesday.

WASHINGTON - Factory orders increased 2.1% at a seasonally adjusted rate in September, the largest increase since January, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.

WASHINGTON — The Virginia Resources Authority on Wednesday and Thursday will sell $167.7 million of bonds to help 13 local issuers finance infrastructure projects and refund previously issued bonds.

WASHINGTON — Construction spending unexpectedly surged 0.5% in September due to public infrastructure activity, the Commerce Department said Monday.

WASHINGTON — Personal income unexpectedly fell in September, dropping 0.1% from the prior month, the Commerce Department reported Monday.

WASHINGTON - Construction spending increased 0.5% at a seasonally adjusted annual rate in September, aided by residential and federal construction, the Commerce Department reported Monday.

WASHINGTON - Personal income dipped 0.1%, while personal consumption increased 0.2% in September and the annual core PCE increased by the smallest in nine years, the Commerce Department reported.

WASHINGTON — Real gross domestic product rose at an annual rate of 2.0% in the third quarter, aided by consumer spending, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

WASHINGTON – Real gross domestic product increased at a 2.0% annual rate in the third quarter, which ended Sept. 30, aided by consumer spending, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

WASHINGTON — New home sales rose 6.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 307,000 in September, the highest level since June, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.

WASHINGTON — Demand for durable goods climbed faster than economists estimated in September, increasing 3.3% largely due to aircraft and parts orders, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.

Virginia voters next week will consider a referendum to increase the maximum size of the rainy-day fund, a measure that could bolster the state’s triple-A rating.

Charlotte voters Tuesday will decide on the largest bond referendum in the Southeast — $203.6 million for road, neighborhood, and housing projects.

WASHINGTON - New home sales increased 6.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 307,000 in September, the highest level since June, as median prices increased and inventories fell, the Commerce Department reported today.