Patrick Temple-West

WASHINGTON — The consumer price index fell 0.2% in May and the core index increased 0.1%, both in line with economists’ estimates, the Labor Department reported yesterday. Consumer prices dropped by the largest percentage since December 2008 as fuel prices fell.

WASHINGTON – Initial jobless claims increased to 472,000 for the week ending June 12, the second straight weekly increase and the highest level in a month, the Labor Department reported today.

WASHINGTON - The consumer price index fell 0.2% in May, the second straight monthly decline, and the core index increased 0.1%, both in line with economists' estimates, the Labor Department reported today.

WASHINGTON — The District of Columbia Council on Tuesday approved savings measures to increase reserve funds and reduce borrowing needs in an attempt to offset the drop in the district’s capital cushion resulting from the economic recession.

WASHINGTON — Home construction fell in May as housing starts dropped 10% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 593,000 units and building permits fell 5.9% to 574,000, the Commerce Department reported yesterday.

WASHINGTON — Industrial production increased 1.2% in May to post its largest gain since August, the Federal Reserve reported yesterday. The surge in output exceeded economist expectations.

Virginia’s May tax collections came in stronger than estimated and the state now projects a revenue surplus in June.

A South Carolina real estate company is seeking financial damages from the companies associated with the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico even though no oil has washed up on the state’s beaches yet.

WASHINGTON - Industrial production increased 1.2% in May, stronger than economists expected and the largest gain since August, the Federal Reserve reported today.

WASHINGTON - Groundbreaking for new U.S. home construction fell in May as housing starts dropped 10% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 593,000 units and building permits fell 5.9% to 574,000, the Commerce Department reported today.

WASHINGTON — Import prices fell 0.6% in May to post the largest decrease since last July, but a smaller drop than economists estimated, the Labor Department reported yesterday.

WASHINGTON — Import prices fell 0.6% in May, the largest decrease since last July but a smaller drop than economists estimated, the Labor Department reported today.

WASHINGTON — Business inventories increased 0.4% in April to post their fourth consecutive monthly gain, while sales rose 0.6%, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

WASHINGTON — Retail sales unexpectedly fell 1.2% in May on a seasonally adjusted basis to post their first decline in eight months, the Commerce Department reported Friday. Sales excluding autos fell 1.1%.

WASHINGTON – Business inventories increased 0.4% in April, the fourth consecutive monthly increase, while sales were up 0.6% in the month, the Commerce Department reported today.

WASHINGTON - Retail sales unexpectedly dropped at a seasonally adjusted 1.2% pace in May, contrary to economists’ estimates of an increase, and the first decline in eight months, the Commerce Department reported today.

WASHINGTON — The federal government posted a $135.9 billion deficit in May, falling short of economists’ expectations, the Treasury Department reported yesterday. It was the 20th consecutive monthly budget deficit and the smallest May deficit since May of 2007.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. trade deficit increased slightly to a seasonally adjusted $40.3 billion in April, up 0.6% from $40.0 billion in March, the Commerce Department reported yesterday.

WASHINGTON – The federal government posted a $135.9 billion deficit in May, smaller than economists’ estimates, and the 20th consecutive monthly budget deficit, the Treasury Department reported today.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. trade deficit increased slightly to a seasonally adjusted $40.3 billion in April, up 0.6% from $40.0 billion in March, but both exports and imports fell in the same month for the first time since April 2009, the Commerce Department reported today.