News and Information from Bond Buyer

All Federal Reserve districts said economic activity grew from mid-May through June, with most terming the expansion as "moderate" or "modest," according to the Beige Book, released Wednesday afternoon.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it raised its long-term rating on Edwardsville, Kan.'s general obligation bonds to AA-minus from A-plus.

California continues to beat revenue projections, according to California Controller Betty Yee's June cash report.

Nebraska relies on Chapter 9 as a quick and easy way to restructure troubled special taxing district debt.

This month's $18.7 billion agreement with BP p.l.c. positions struggling Gulf coast states to receive financial relief, though the years-long payout won't provide immediate respite for some.

The economy can handle lift-off, according to Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President and Chief Executive Officer Loretta J. Mester, who noted a small increase in the fed funds rate would mean monetary policy should remain accommodative "for some time to come."

Prices of top-quality municipal bonds were mixed at mid-session, traders said, with yields on some maturities remaining unchanged and others rising by as much as one basis point.

A New Jersey tax court ruling stating that one of its nonprofit hospitals is not exempt from property tax payments from 2006 to 2008 is unlikely to have implications in other states, according to Fitch Ratings.

Signature Public Funding Corp. has been formed by New York-based Signature Bank as a wholly-owned subsidiary unit that will specialize in municipal finance nationwide.

New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer released a four-part agenda to overhaul the city's housing authority, following an audit by his office.

Temple University in Philadelphia approved a 2.8% increase in undergraduate tuition on July 14.

Municipal bond traders were awaiting the pricings of some hefty new issues, led by deals in California and Indiana.

Indicator Last Report Forecast Actual Empire State Manufacturing June: -1.98 July: 3.5 July: 3.86 PPI May: +0.5% June: +0.2% June: +0.4% PPI Core May: +0.1% June: +0.1% June: +0.3% Industrial Production May: -0.2% June: +0.2% June: +0.3% Capacity Utilization May: 78.2 June: 78.1 June: 78.4

Industrial production climbed 0.3% in June, the Federal Reserve reported Wednesday.

The Empire State Manufacturing Survey showed "business activity improved slightly for New York manufacturers," the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported Wednesday, as the general business conditions index climbed to positive 3.86 in July from negative 1.98 in June.

Wednesday, July 15 Issuer St Description Amount

Wednesday, July 15 Issuer St Description Amount

Week Of July 13 Issuer St Description Amount

Indicator Last Report Forecast Actual Import Prices May: +1.3% June: +0.1% June: -0.1% Export Prices May: +0.6% June: na June: -0.2% Retail Sales May: +1.2% June: +0.3% June: -0.3% ex-Autos May: +1.0% June: +0.5% June: -0.1% Business Inventories April: +0.4% May: +0.3% May: +0.3%

Jul. 15, 2015 Midwest: Plain/Insured GO Yield Curve* State Ratings One-Year Five-Year 10-Year 30-Year Illinois A3/A+/A+ 1.55 3.12 4.2 5.06 Indiana Aaa/AAA/AA+ 0.3 1.38 2.45 3.43 Iowa Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.3 1.39 2.45 3.43 Michigan Aa2/AA/AA 0.36 1.49 2.61 3.61 Minnesota Aa1/AA+/AA+ 0.31 1.35 2.38 3.32 Missouri Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.3 1.33 2.36 3.34 Nebraska NR/AAA/NR 0.3 1.4 2.5 3.51 North Dakota Aa1/AA+/NR 0.33 1.45 2.53 3.51 Ohio Aa1/AA+/AA+ 0.32 1.39 2.51 3.51 South Dakota NR/AA+/AA+ 0.34 1.44 2.53 3.53 Wisconsin Aa2/AA/AA 0.33 1.4 2.5 3.51