Patrick Temple-West

Real gross domestic product expanded at a 1.7% annual rate in the second quarter of 2010, revised slightly higher on stronger inventory and consumer spending, the Commerce Department reported today.

Gov. Robert F. McDonnell has appointed a new head of the Virginia Resources Authority.The new VRA executive director is Stephanie Hamlett, who succeeds Sheryl Bailey. Bailey left the to become deputy administrator of Chesterfield County.

David Massey, North Carolina’s deputy securities administrator, began a one-year term as president of the North American Securities Administrators Association on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON — The District of Columbia is lowering its revenue estimates for fiscal 2010 and 2011 amid the weak economy, but it’s making sure it will stay within its debt cap, chief financial officer Natwar Gandhi said Monday.

WASHINGTON — Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell on Thursday released an audit of the state’s Department of Transportation that showed $1.45 billion could be freed up for projects and that these new funds could possibly accelerate VDOT’s bond issuances, sources said.

WASHINGTON — New home sales remained near a record low in August as they held at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 288,000 the second consecutive month, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

WASHINGTON — New orders for durable goods posted their biggest decline of 2010 in August, falling 1.3% due to a dip in demand for transportation equipment, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

New home sales were unchanged in August with 288,000 sales at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, tying July’s second-lowest sales figure on record, as inventories fell to the lowest level in 42 years, the Commerce Department reported today.

New orders for durable goods dropped 1.3% in August, the largest decline a year, as orders excluding transportation goods increased stronger than expected, the Commerce Department reported today.

Existing home sales rebounded in August from a record low in July, rising 7.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.13 million, the National Association of Realtors reported Thursday.

Existing home sales increased 7.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.13 million in August, still the second-worst month in more than a decade.

WASHINGTON — Ground-breaking for U.S. home construction was stronger than economists expected in August as building permits and housing starts both increased for the first time since March, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday.

WASHINGTON — The Federal Open Market Committee kept the federal funds target rate unchanged Tuesday in a range between zero and 25 basis points. The committee reiterated that economic conditions warrant “exceptionally low” interest rates “for an extended period.”

WASHINGTON - The Federal Open Market Committee Tuesday kept the federal-funds target rate unchanged at zero to 0.25% and reiterated that economic conditions warrant “exceptionally low” interest rates “for an extended period.”

WASHINGTON - Groundbreaking for U.S. home construction was stronger than economists expected in August as building permits and housing starts both increased for the first time since March, the Commerce Department reported today.

Municipal bond issuance is expected to increase next year, but state and local governments will need additional federal support to grow, according to a survey of market participants.

WASHINGTON — Senior bondholders of a South Carolina toll road’s debt are claiming they are owed at least $237.8 million as they continue to wrestle with state transportation officials over a debt restructuring plan.

WASHINGTON — Consumer prices increased 0.3% in August on higher energy costs and posted the first back-to-back price increases of the year, the Labor Department reported Friday.

WASHINGTON — The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is considering options to trim the new $3.83 billion estimated cost of the Metrorail extension project’s second phase in order to reduce the amount of debt that will be needed.

WASHINGTON - Consumer prices increased 0.3% in August on higher energy costs and posted the first back-to-back price increases of the year, the Labor Department reported Friday.