Patrick Temple-West

Two of Virginia’s triple-A counties, Arlington and Fairfax, have released manager-proposed fiscal 2011 budgets that address revenue shortfalls and seek to maintain top-tier credit ratings.

WASHINGTON - New home sales dropped to a record low of 309,000 homes purchased at an annual rate in January, well below economists’ estimates, the Commerce Department reported today.

WASHINGTON — Local government defaults and bankruptcies could be higher this year than the historical norm, but are expected to remain rare, Moody’s ­Investors Service said in a report released yesterday.

The consumer price index increased 0.2% in January at a seasonally adjusted rate, the same growth rate for the fifth month in a row, as core prices unexpectedly declined for the first time in more than 27 years, the Labor Department reported Friday.

WASHINGTON — In an effort to take advantage of the 35% subsidy rate for Build America Bonds while it lasts, Maryland plans to competitively sell its largest BAB issue to date — $400 million — as well as $200 million of advance refunding bonds on Wednesday.

The consumer price index increased 0.2% in January at a seasonally adjusted rate, increasing by that amount for the fifth month in a row, as core prices unexpectedly declined for the first time in more than 27 years, the Labor Department reported today.

The producer price index increased 1.4% on a seasonally adjusted basis in January, driven by higher energy costs, the Labor Department reported yesterday.

Initial jobless claims increased by 31,000, rising to 473,000 for the week ending Feb. 13, the Labor Department reported yesterday.

WASHINGTON – Initial jobless claims increased by 31,000 to 473,000 in the week ending Feb. 13, the Labor Department reported today.

WASHINGTON - The producer price index increased 1.4% on a seasonally adjusted basis in January, driven by higher energy costs, the Labor Department reported today.

The federal government posted a $42.6 billion deficit in January, the smallest monthly deficit since April and the 16th consecutive monthly deficit, as outlays totaled $247.9 billion and receipts totaled $205.2 billion.

Industrial production rose 0.9% in January while capacity utilization increased to 72.6%, the Federal Reserve Board reported yesterday.

Groundbreaking for new U.S. home construction increased 2.8% to a seasonally adjusted 591,000 in January as building permits decreased by 4.9% to 621,000, the Commerce Department reported yesterday.

Eastern states still hurting from the recession have exceeded their budgeted funds for snow removal after being slammed by last week's snow storms and are applying for federal emergency relief. But the financial strains will not affect their debt service payments on outstanding bonds, according to a credit rating agency analyst and state officials.

Standard & Poor's last week downgraded Hampton University to A-minus from A-plus based on increasing debt and business risk related to the university's Proton Therapy Institute.

WASHINGTON – The federal government posted a $42.6 billion deficit in January, the smallest monthly deficit since April and the 16th consecutive monthly deficit.

WASHINGTON - Industrial production rose 0.9% in January while capacity utilization increased to 72.6%, the Federal Reserve Board reported today.

WASHINGTON - Groundbreaking for new U.S. home construction increased 2.8% to a seasonally adjusted 591,000 in January as building permits decreased by 4.9% to 621,000, the Commerce Department reported today.

WASHINGTON — The South Carolina-based issuer of $322.5 million of toll road revenue bonds that are in default appears to be preparing to file for bankruptcy, according to a disclosure ­document.

Business inventories decreased 0.2% in December, the first decline in three months as economists had expected an increase, while sales were up 0.9%, the Commerce Department reported Friday.