Patrick Temple-West

WASHINGTON — North Carolina today expects to competitively sell $487.7 million of general obligation bonds, its first new-money GOs in three years.

The consumer confidence index rose to 52.5 in March, exceeding economists’ expectations and rebounding from poor figures in February, the Conference Board reported yesterday.

The consumer confidence index rose to 52.5 in March, exceeding economists' expectations and rebounding from poor figures in February, the Conference Board reported today.

Personal income was flat, while personal spending increased 0.3% in February, in line with economists’ estimates and the smallest increase in five months, the Commerce Department reported yesterday.

WASHINGTON - Personal income was flat, while personal spending increased 0.3% in February, in line with economists’ estimates and the smallest increase in five months, the Commerce Department reported today.

Gross domestic product increased at a 5.6% annual rate in the fourth quarter of 2009, revised down from 5.9% previous estimate, as business investments and private inventories were revised lower, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

WASHINGTON – Gross domestic product increased at a 5.6% annual rate in the fourth quarter of 2009, revised down from 5.9% previous estimate, as business investments and private inventories were revised lower, the Commerce Department reported today.

WASHINGTON — Initial jobless claims decreased to a seasonally adjusted 442,000 for the week ending March 20, the third decline in four weeks, the Labor Department reported yesterday.

WASHINGTON – Initial jobless claims decreased to a seasonally adjusted 442,000 for the week ending March 20, the third decline in four weeks, the Labor Department reported today.

New home sales dropped to a record low of 308,000 homes purchased at an annual rate in February, as inventories continue to rise, the Commerce Department reported yesterday.

Durable goods orders increased 0.5% in February to $178.1 billion, the third consecutive monthly gain, the Commerce Department reported yesterday.

WASHINGTON — Anne Arundel ­County, Md., today expects to competitively price $185.7 million of general obligation bonds, including its first Build America Bonds, as it faces negative credit pressures stemming from the housing market.

The Virginia Resources Authority expects today to issue $146.1 million of clean water refunding bonds. The debt will refund some or all of the clean-water state revolving fund bonds issued in 2004, 2007, and 2008.

WASHINGTON - New home sales dropped to a record low of 308,000 homes purchased at an annual rate in February, as inventories continue to rise, the Commerce Department reported today.

WASHINGTON - Durable goods orders increased 0.5% in February to $178.1 billion, the third consecutive monthly gain, the Commerce Department reported today.

Existing home sales fell 0.6% in February to a 5.02 million annual rate as inventories continued to rise, the National Association of Realtors reported yesterday.

WASHINGTON - Existing home sales fell 0.6% in February to a 5.02 million annual rate as inventories continued to rise, the National Association of Realtors reported today.

WASHINGTON — South Carolina this week will competitively sell $324 million of new-money and $336.5 million of refunding general obligation bonds, foregoing Build America Bonds partly because of a growing concern that federal lawmakers or regulators could lower the subsidy rate or actual payments.

WASHINGTON — The District of Columbia’s chief financial officer is warning the mayor and District Council members against additional borrowing that would breach the 12% debt-to-expenditures cap.

Initial jobless claims decreased 5,000 to 457,000 for the week ending March 13, the Labor Department reported yesterday. Continuing claims increased to 4.579 million for the week ending March 6.