News and Information from Bond Buyer

A fiscal accountability report that projected deficits totaling $1.4 billion in fiscal years 2016 through 2018 immediately triggered partisan debate in Connecticut, The Bond Buyer's Paul Burton reports. The author of the report, however, emphasized that the state is fiscally strong.

Weber County, Utah, will price $39.4 million of general obligation refunding bonds in a competitive sale Dec. 5.

Fitch Ratings on Monday lowered the ratings to junk on slightly more than $100 million of San Ysidro, Calif., school district debt deeming it likely that the state could take over the school district.

The value of business inventories rose 0.6% to another record level in September, as retail inventories jumped 0.9% to add to already announced inventory gains at the factory and wholesale levels, data released Wednesday morning by the Commerce Department showed.

Counties are facing a “triple threat” of tax reform, entitlement reform and sequestration, National Association of Counties Executive Director Matthew Chase said at a briefing on Capitol Hill Tuesday, The Bond Buyer reports. NACo is working to preserve the tax exemption for municipal bonds and is preparing for tax reform, whenever legislation actually moves forward.

Existing home sales fell 3.2% to a seasonally adjusted 5.12 million-unit rate in October from an unrevised 5.29 million pace the previous month, the National Association of Realtors announced Wednesday.

Retail sales posted a 0.4% increase in October, and ex autos were up 0.2%, ex-autos and gas grew 0.3%. These were all better than expected in a good start to Q4 that shows little impact from the government's temporary closing.

October CPI was reported down 0.1% and core CPI grew 0.1%, modest numbers that suggest no acceleration in inflation.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke Tuesday night drove home the message that the central bank will not step back from its aggressive stance in support of the U.S. economy - even when it ends its $85 billion a month in bond purchases.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke Tuesday night forcefully voiced his agreement with his likely successor, Vice Chair Janet Yellen, that monetary policy can only return to normal if the central bank does all it can now to ensure "a more robust recovery."

Chicago Federal Reserve Bank President Charles Evans said Tuesday he would welcome a few more meetings before deciding to begin to taper the asset purchase program in order to gain assurance that labor market improvements are sustainable.

Moody's Investors Services said it downgraded the ratings on Copper Mountain Community College District, Calif.'s general obligation bonds to A1 from Aa3.

Indicator Last Report Forecast Actual Employment Cost Index Q2: +0.5% Q3: +0.5% Q3: +0.4%

Nov. 20, 2013 Midwest: Plain/Insured GO Yield Curve* State Ratings One-Year Five-Year 10-Year 30-Year Illinois A3/A+/A+ 0.87 2.45 4.34 5.59 Indiana Aaa/AAA/AA+ 0.2 1.29 2.79 4.29 Iowa Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.17 1.22 2.73 4.23 Michigan Aa2/AA/AA 0.27 1.42 3.02 4.52 Minnesota Aa1/AA+/AA+ 0.17 1.2 2.68 4.16 Missouri Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.17 1.16 2.62 4.12 Nebraska NR/AAA/AA+ 0.19 1.28 2.82 4.31 North Dakota Aa1/AA+/NR 0.19 1.25 2.76 4.28 Ohio Aa1/AA+/AA+ 0.19 1.25 2.84 4.35 South Dakota NR/AA+/NR 0.2 1.32 2.87 4.38 Wisconsin Aa2/AA/AA 0.2 1.27 2.84 4.35

11/19/2013 11/12/2013 State # Iss Amount ($000) # Iss Amount ($000) Chg in Amt ($000s) Illinois 17 $831,682 13 $263,147 $568,535 Indiana 10 72,175 12 234,960 -162,785 Iowa 5 98,160 7 148,905 -50,745 Michigan 6 94,030 7 110,725 -16,695 Minnesota 24 160,005 28 338,095 -178,090 Missouri 5 54,435 7 368,235 -313,800 Nebraska 0 0 1 23,000 -23,000 North Dakota 2 5,015 1 3,995 1,020 Ohio 6 136,370 6 118,085 18,285 South Dakota 0 0 2 81,645 -81,645 Wisconsin 10 83,230 13 88,055 -4,825

Wednesday, November 20 Issuer St Description Amount

Wednesday, November 20 Issuer St Description Amount

Week Of November 18 Issuer St Description Amount

ARKANSAS

ALABAMA