Research >> Economics
DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer down -0.2%
For the week ending May 16, 2009, the DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer fell by -0.2 percent after having exhibited some measure of stability over the past two weeks. A drop in auto production weighed most on the barometer in the latest week with all of Chrysler’s North American plants closed due to bankruptcy and six of GM’s plants closed due to cost cutting. Although plant closings for the annual changeover are typical at this time, the length of GM and Chrysler closings extend well beyond the usual time period. So far the barometer points to an approximately -2 percent decline in GDP for Q2 2009, a much slower pace of decline compared to the past two quarters.
Posted: May 28, 2009 Thursday 10:00 AM