Patrick Temple-West

WASHINGTON – Initial jobless claims fell 24,000 to 456,000 in the week ending April 17, the largest weekly decline in claims since February and the first drop in three weeks, the Labor Department reported today.

North Carolina Gov. Beverley Perdue Tuesday released a budget proposal for fiscal 2011 that includes no additional bond issuance, but creates a new fund for transportation projects. The plan, which would amend the state’s biennial budget passed last year, closes a $1.2 billion budget gap.

WASHINGTON — States are likely to increase debt issuance to plug operating budget shortfalls as federal aid declines and their tax revenues lag the economic recovery, Standard & Poor’s said yesterday in a report.

WASHINGTON — Groundbreaking for new U.S. home construction increased 1.6% in March to a seasonally adjusted 626,000, as building permits increased 7.5% to 685,000, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has appointed E. Lynn Hampton interim president and chief executive officer effective May 9.

WASHINGTON - Groundbreaking for new U.S. home construction increased 1.6% in March to a seasonally adjusted 626,000, as building permits increased 7.5% to 685,000, the Commerce Department reported today.

Initial jobless claims increased by 24,000 to 484,000 for the week ending April 10, the second straight weekly increase and the highest level since Feb. 20, the Labor Department reported yesterday.

WASHINGTON – Initial jobless claims increased by 24,000 to 484,000 for the week ending April 10, the second straight weekly increase and the highest level since Feb. 20, the Labor Department reported today.

WASHINGTON — Davenport & Co. has hired two financial advisers for a new Charlotte office to bolster its services in the Southeast, the firm announced this week.

The consumer price index increased 0.1% on a seasonally adjusted basis in March, in line with economists estimates, as year-over-year core inflation was the lowest in six years, the Labor Department reported yesterday.

All but one Federal Reserve District experienced improving economic conditions as most districts saw retail sales increase with signs of future growth, the Federal Reserve Board said yesterday in its Beige Book.

The North Carolina State University at Raleigh expects to issue $77.5 million of tax-exempt and Build America Bonds on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON - All but one Federal Reserve District experienced improving economic conditions as most districts saw retail sales increase with signs of future growth, the Federal Reserve Board said today in its Beige Book.

WASHINGTON - The consumer price index increased 0.1% on a seasonally adjusted basis in March, in line with economists estimates, as year-over-year core inflation was the lowest in six years, the Labor Department reported today.

Import prices rose 0.7% in March, the seventh gain in eight months, as petroleum prices increased, while export prices also rose 0.7% in the month, the Labor Department reported yesterday.

WASHINGTON — Import prices rose 0.7% in March, the seventh gain in eight months, as petroleum prices increased, while export prices also rose 0.7% in the month, the Labor Department reported today.

WASHINGTON — The federal government ran a $65.4 billion deficit in March while collecting savings from federal financial assistance programs, the Treasury Department announced yesterday.

WASHINGTON – The federal government ran a $65.4 billion deficit in March while collecting savings from federal financial assistance programs.

A U.S. district court judge last week dismissed a lawsuit against the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority that contested its right to collect toll revenues that secure more than $900 million of MWAA's outstanding bonds. The bond proceeds are helping to finance the system's expansion of rail service to Washington Dulles International Airport.

WASHINGTON — Wholesale inventories increased 0.6% in February, surpassing economists' estimates for the largest gain in three months, the Commerce Department reported Friday.