Patrick Temple-West

WASHINGTON — Employers added an anemic 18,000 total jobs in June, as the unemployment rate edged up to 9.2%, the Labor Department reported Friday.

Efforts to extend and expand stimulus law provisions for qualified zone academy bonds and qualified school construction bonds would get a boost under a bill recently introduced by Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y.

WASHINGTON - Conduit issuers and borrowers are stepping up their efforts to counter calls in Washington for the elimination of tax-exemption for municipal bonds.

WASHINGTON — Raymond James Financial Inc. announced Wednesday that it has reached a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission and state regulators under which it will buy back about $300 million of illiquid auction-rate securities from retail customers.

The Crystal City, Tex., Public Facilities Corp. has received an adverse tax determination notice from the Internal Revenue Service for $14 million of bonds issued in 2003 for a prison.

Former New York Lieut. Gov. Richard Ravitch and former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker are forming a task force to analyze states' budgets with the goal of helping governments put in place stronger, long-term budget practices.

Congressional Democrats on Friday called for limits on tax deductions as a way to reduce the deficit and also pushed for the Build America Bond program to be reinstated.

Real gross domestic product increased 1.9% at an annual rate in the first quarter, edging up from the 1.8% estimated growth reported last month, based on a downward revision to imports and stronger business inventories, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

Durable goods orders in May increased 1.9% as auto orders snapped back following a sharp decline in April, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

WASHINGTON - Durable goods orders in May increased 1.9% as auto orders snapped back following a sharp decline in April, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

WASHINGTON – Real gross domestic product increased 1.9% at an annual rate in the first quarter, edging up from the 1.8% estimate growth reported last month, based on a downward revision to imports and stronger business inventories, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

WASHINGTON - The Center for American Progress says any debt-limit agreement should contain expenditure cuts, including eliminating tax-exemption for private-activity bonds and making other new munis direct-pay bonds with a 25% subsidy rate.

WASHINGTON - New home sales fell 2.1% in May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 319,000, as the number of new homes for sale dropped to a record low, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.

WASHINGTON - Initial jobless claims increased by 9,000 to 429,000 for the week ending June 18, well above economists' estimates, as an unusually large number of state claims were estimated, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

WASHINGTON - New home sales fell 2.1% in May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 319,000, as the number of new homes for sale dropped to a record low, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.

WASHINGTON - Initial jobless claims increased by 9,000 to 429,000 for the week ending June 18, well above economists' estimates, as an unusually large number of state claims were estimated, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

Housing groups and bond dealers are urging the Internal Revenue Service not to adopt a proposed change in the way the average area purchase price is determined associated with mortgages financed with the proceeds of single-family housing bonds.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority announced Wednesday that it has tapped a new leader after a difficult selection process and during a time of controversy about the second phase of its Metrorail extension project.

WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve held the federal funds target rate range between zero and 0.25% and offered no indication that it would extend its Treasury purchase program beyond the end of the month, the Federal Open Market Committee announced Wednesday.

WASHINGTON - The Federal Reserve held the Fed funds target rate range between zero and 0.25% and offered no indication that it would extend its Treasury purchase program beyond the end of the month, the Federal Open Market Committee announced Wednesday.