Patrick Temple-West

WASHINGTON - Construction spending in April leaped 2.7% at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, the largest increase in almost 10 years and well above economists’ estimates, as residential construction soared, the Commerce Department reported today.

WASHINGTON — A critique of two proposed hospital projects in Montgomery County, Md., echoes warnings that the enactment of health care reform will make it more challenging for nonprofit health providers to finance projects through the municipal bond market.

WASHINGTON — Personal consumption expenditures were flat in April, the first month without an increase since September, as disposable personal income increased by the most since December and personal income increased 0.4%, the Commerce Department reported on Friday.

WASHINGTON - Personal consumption expenditures were flat in April, the first month without an increase since September, as disposable personal income rose by the most since December, while personal income increased 0.4%, the Commerce Department reported today.

WASHINGTON — Virginia is reviewing its public-private partnership program to ensure the state can most efficiently leverage private funds as its transportation revenues have dwindled amid the economic recession.

WASHINGTON — Gross domestic product for the first quarter was unexpectedly revised lower to a 3.0% annualized growth rate, as the consumer spending and business investment categories were revised down and inventory investment was revised up, the Commerce Department reported yesterday.

WASHINGTON – Gross domestic product for the first quarter was unexpectedly revised lower to a 3.0% annualized growth rate as the consumer spending and business investment categories were revised down and inventory investment was revised up, the Commerce Department reported today.

WASHINGTON — Maryland has become the first state to disclose that a portion of its Build America Bond subsidy payment was reduced so that it could pay the federal government outstanding payroll taxes, state officials said this week. The offset could affect BAB issuance in the future, they said.

WASHINGTON — New home sales jumped 14.8% in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 504,000, driving down inventories as new home prices declined, the Commerce Department reported yesterday.

WASHINGTON — Durable goods orders in April surged 2.9%, more than double economists’ estimates, but the gain was driven mostly by transportation equipment orders, the Commerce Department reported yesterday.

WASHINGTON - New home sales jumped 14.8% in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 504,000, driving down inventories as new home prices declined, the Commerce Department reported today.

WASHINGTON - Durable goods orders in April surged 2.9%, more than double economists’ estimates, but the gain was driven mostly by transportation equipment orders, the Commerce Department reported today.

WASHINGTON — Existing home sales increased at a 7.6% annual rate in April to 5.77 million sales, far exceeding economists’ estimates as buyers rushed to capitalize on the home-buyers’ tax credit, the National Association of Realtors reported yesterday.

WASHINGTON - Existing home sales increased at a 7.6% annual rate in April to 5.77 million sales, far exceeding economists’ estimates as buyers rushed to capitalize on the homebuyers’ tax credit, the National Association of Realtors reported today.

WASHINGTON — Montgomery County, Md., officials are to meet today with analysts from the three major rating agencies to discuss recent budget cuts they made in an effort to secure the county’s ratings.

Montgomery County on Thursday approved a carbon dioxide tax, becoming the first East Coast municipality to levy a tax on emitters.

The composite index of leading economic indicators fell 0.1% in April, the first decline in more than a year, the Conference Board reported yesterday.

Initial jobless claims increased to 471,000 for the week ending May 15, above economists’ estimates and the highest level in a month, the Labor Department reported yesterday.

Initial jobless claims increased to 471,000 for the week ending May 15, above economists' estimates and the highest level in a month, the Labor Department reported today.

Federal Reserve members upheld the current monetary policy that the risk of raising interest rates early outweighs the risk of raising them too late, members of the Federal Open Market Committee said in minutes released from the April 28 monetary policy meeting.