Patrick Temple-West

WASHINGTON — Some Federal Reserve districts reported that moderate economic growth was tempered by “widespread signs of a deceleration” from mid-July through the end of August in the latest installment of the Fed’s “beige book” of economic activity

WASHINGTON – Consumer credit fell $3.6 billion, or 1.8%, to $2.419 trillion in July, the sixth consecutive monthly decline, the Federal Reserve reported Wednesday.

WASHINGTON – Some Federal Reserve districts reported “widespread signs of a deceleration compared with preceding periods” that has tempered moderate economic growth, the Federal Reserve reported Wednesday in its Beige Book of economic activity.

The West Virginia Parkways Authority cleared a technical hurdle last week toward advancing a bond deal for the U.S. 35 toll road and the issue could be priced by the end of the year.

WASHINGTON — As Maryland’s treasurer, Nancy K. Kopp has steered the state through the recession from her position on a financial oversight board, ­wielding the knife for spending cuts with a greater authority than other state treasurers.

WASHINGTON — The annual growth rate of the nation’s economy was revised downward to 1.6% in the preliminary estimate for the second quarter due to greater imports and reduced inventory investment and exports, the Commerce Department reported Friday. Second-quarter growth initially was estimated at 2.4% on July 30.

WASHINGTON – Real gross domestic product increased at a 1.6% annual rate in the second quarter of 2010, according to the preliminary estimate, which revised lower from the advance estimate, on an increase in imports and decreases in inventory investment and exports, the Commerce Department reported today.

WASHINGTON — Initial jobless claims fell more than expected the week ending Aug. 21, dropping by 31,000 filings to 473,000 as the economic indicator posted its first decline in a month, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

WASHINGTON – Initial jobless claims decreased 31,000 to 473,000 for the week ending Aug. 21, dropping for the first time in four weeks, the Labor Department reported today.

WASHINGTON — New orders for durable goods in July edged upward 0.3% thanks to a flood of aircraft and auto purchases, but many other categories recorded significant declines, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.

WASHINGTON - New home sales fell 12.4% in July to a new record low of 276,000 sales at a seasonally adjusted annual rate as sale prices also dropped, the Commerce Department reported today.

WASHINGTON – New orders for durable goods increased 0.3% in July, the first rise in three months, on a large gain in nondefense aircraft purchases as orders excluding transportation sank, the Commerce Department reported today.

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — State treasurers voted Tuesday to urge Congress to extend the Build America Bond program at the current 35% subsidy rate, flouting those who warn lawmakers will only approve an extension at a reduced rate.

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — One of the Obama administration’s priorities is to get Congress to extend the Build America Bond program and federal officials are convinced BABs will remain a “vibrant market” even if the federal subsidy rate is reduced from its current 35% level, a Treasury Department official said ­Monday.

The Congressional Budget Office Thursday upped the estimated cost of the Build America Bond program by $10 billion to $36 billion over 10 years in its new estimates on the fiscal 2010 budget deficit and economic outlook.

WASHINGTON — Initial jobless claims increased 12,000 to a nine-month high of 500,000 in the week ended Aug. 14, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

WASHINGTON – Initial jobless claims increased 12,000 to 500,000 for the week ending Aug. 14, the third straight increase in weekly claims and the highest level for the calendar year, the Labor Department reported today.

The Buena Vista, Va., City Council plans to meet Thursday to discuss the possibility of hiring a financial adviser to help it devise a workout solution for a troubled $9.2 million bond issue that could force it to lose its city hall, police station, and other municipal buildings.

The Richland County No. 2 School District expects to competitively price $136.6 million of bonds Tuesday, including refunding and taxable qualified school construction bonds.

U.S. housing starts in July rose less than economists estimated to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 546,000 and building permits fell to a 14-month-low of 565,000, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday.