Patrick Temple-West

WASHINGTON – Real gross domestic product increased at a 2.4% annual rate in the second quarter of 2010, the smallest gain in three quarters, as a surge in imports and slowing inventory growth outweighed gains in real estate and state and local spending, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

WASHINGTON — Initial jobless claims fell to 457,000 in the week ending July 24, the Labor Department said Thursday.

WASHINGTON – Initial jobless claims decreased to 457,000 in the week ending July 24, the third decline in four weeks, the Labor Department reported today.

WASHINGTON — Rating agencies have expressed serious concerns about the District of Columbia’s financial status, particularly regarding its foreclosure this month on a troubled hospital, according to a letter the chief financial officer sent to city officials Wednesday.

WASHINGTON — The number of Federal Reserve banks reporting greater economic activity fell to eight from 12 in the latest edition of the Fed’s Beige Book, which was released Wednesday and reflects information collected on or before July 19. The report suggests growth has stalled somewhat since earlier this year.

WASHINGTON — New orders of durable goods unexpectedly fell for a second straight month in June, dropping 1.0% to post their largest decline in 10 months, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.

Hancock County residents will vote in November on a $37 million bond referendum to fund school construction, though a similar package had previously faced resistance.

WASHINGTON - Economic activity increased at just eight of the 12 Federal Reserve Banks, compared to all 12 growing in the last report, a sign that growth has stalled somewhat since earlier this year, the Federal Reserve Board said today in its Beige Book of economic activity.

WASHINGTON – New orders of durable goods unexpectedly declined 1.0% in June, the second consecutive monthly drop and the largest decline in 10 months, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.

Members of Congress and local officials yesterday pushed for passage of pending legislation that would create jobs at the county and city level, in an effort to avoid losses of up to 500,000 government jobs over the next year and a half.

WASHINGTON — New homes sales increased 23.6% in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 330,000 as the market recovered from its worst month ever, the Commerce Department reported Monday.

WASHINGTON - New homes sales increased 23.6% in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 330,000, snapping back from a record low number of sales in May, as the number of new homes for sale dropped to the lowest level in almost 42 years, the Commerce Department reported today.

WASHINGTON — Florence County, S.C., will begin issuing $122.4 million of revenue bonds Monday for several projects at the McLeod Regional Medical Center as the hospital chain has demonstrated credit strength despite a struggling regional economy and the changing health care environment.

WASHINGTON — Triple-A rated Maryland Friday will begin selling $489.8 million of general obligation bonds, including Build America Bonds and other school-related bonds created by the stimulus act.

WASHINGTON — Existing home sales fell 5.1% in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.37 million annual as home inventories increased, which could push down prices in the months ahead, the National Association of Realtors reported Thursday.

WASHINGTON - Existing home sales fell 5.1% to a 5.37 million annual rate in June as home inventories increased, which could to push down prices in the months ahead, the National Association of Realtors reported today.

The West Virginia Housing Development Fund today expects to price $131.2 million of housing finance bonds.

WASHINGTON — U.S. housing starts slipped 5.0% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 549,000 in June, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday, as sector activity continued to wane after the demise of the housing tax credit.

WASHINGTON - U.S. housing starts slipped 5.0% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 549,000 in June as home building permits increased 2.1% to 586,000, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday.

WASHINGTON — Consumer prices declined in June for the third consecutive month, dropping 0.1%, the Labor Department reported Friday. Core prices, excluding food and energy goods, increased 0.2% from May to June, with a slight increase in the shelter index.