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DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer Jumped by 1.8%
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For the week ending December 15, 2012, the DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer jumped by 1.8 percent, following a 0.4 percent decline in the previous week. On consumption side, rebound in Chain Store Sales contributed to the strength of the consumption side index. Also on production side, continued increase in car production and rebound in truck production and electric output this week led to a strong increase of the overall index.
On a year-over-year basis, the barometer showed increase of 1.0 percent, which compares to an average -3.3 percent decline over the Great Recession (determined to have ended in June 2009 according to the NBER). After flatlining in 2006, and declining from 2007 through 2009, the barometer bounced back in 2010 to rise by 3.4 percent, which was the strongest increase since 1994 (+4.0 percent), but not so impressive when compared to an -8.0 percent drop in 2009. The barometer increased by 2.2 percent in 2011 at a somewhat slower pace compared to 2010.
The smoothed version of the barometer, which attempts to account for weekly volatility, was up by 0.2 percent for the week. Its year-over-year growth rate continued to slow to 0.8 percent.
Posted: December 27, 2012 Thursday 10:00 AM