Patrick Temple-West

WASHINGTON — The federal government posted an $82.7 billion deficit in April, far exceeding economists’ estimates, and a record deficit for April, the Treasury Department reported yesterday.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. trade deficit widened by 2.5% to $40.4 billion in March, the largest deficit since December 2008, the Commerce Department reported yesterday.

The Charleston County School District, the state’s second largest, could soon receive authorization to issue deficit-financing bonds as school districts across South Carolina grapple with funding shortfalls.

WASHINGTON – The federal government posted an $82.7 billion deficit in April far exceeding economists’ estimates and a record deficit for the month of April, the Treasury Department reported today.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. trade deficit widened by 2.5% to $40.4 billion in March, the largest deficit since December 2008, the Commerce Department reported today.

Wholesale inventories rose 0.4% in March as strong sales emptied shelves, dropping the inventories-to-sales ratio to a record low, the Commerce Department reported yesterday.

NEW YORK — Wholesale inventories rose 0.4% in March, while sales increased 2.4%, and the inventories-to-sales ratio dropped to a record low, the Commerce Department reported today.

WASHINGTON — Virginia on Wednesday expects to competitively price $492.7 million of transportation bonds — the state’s first bond offering from a $3 billion debt program approved in 2007.

WASHINGTON — Citing market turbulence, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said late Friday it would delay its second deal to finance construction of a Metrorail extension that will ultimately link downtown Washington, D.C., with Washington Dulles International Airport.

WASHINGTON — Nonfarm payrolls in April increased by 290,000, exceeding economists’ estimates and posting the largest increase in four years, as the unemployment rate increased to 9.9%, the Labor Department reported Friday.

WASHINGTON – Consumer borrowing unexpectedly increased by $2.0 billion, or 1.0%, in March as consumer loans held by commercial banks soared 39%, the Federal Reserve reported today.

WASHINGTON - Nonfarm payrolls in April increased by 290,000, exceeding economists' estimates and posting the largest increase in four years, as the unemployment rate increased to 9.9%, the Labor Department reported today.

WASHINGTON — Last month, the Oklahoma fire marshal’s office cut staff again, dropping its headcount to 27 workers from 34 at full capacity four years ago, as another round of spending cuts was imposed.

WASHINGTON — U.S. nonfarm productivity increased at a 3.6% annual rate in the first quarter ended March 31, exceeding economists’ estimates, the Labor Department reported yesterday.

WASHINGTON — Initial jobless claims fell 7,000 to 444,000 for the week ending May 1, the Labor Department reported yesterday.

WASHINGTON – Initial jobless claims fell 7,000 to 444,000 for the week ending May 1, the third consecutive weekly decline, the Labor Department reported today.

WASHINGTON – U.S. nonfarm productivity increased at a 3.6% annual rate in the first quarter ended March 31, exceeding economists' estimates, the Labor Department reported today.

WASHINGTON — Factory orders rose 1.3% in March, in what was an unexpected increase compared to economists’ estimates, as orders excluding transportation jumped by the largest amount in more than four years, the Commerce Department reported yesterday.

WASHINGTON — Factory orders increased 1.3% in March, an unexpected rise compared to economists’ estimates, as orders excluding transportation rose by the largest amount in more than four years, the Commerce Department reported today.

WASHINGTON — Construction spending unexpectedly increased 0.2% in March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $847 billion, as public construction increased by the largest amount in 13 months, the Commerce Department reported yesterday.