Research >> Economics
DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer increased 0.1%
|
For the week ending January 29, 2011, the DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer increased +0.1 percent, the first weekly rise in the New Year. For January overall, the barometer fell by -0.4 percent compared to an increase of +0.8 percent in December. No doubt weather played a large role in depressing the barometer in January, just as it has held back other economic indicators including January payrolls. The good news there is that it sets up February to be a month of rebound. For example, we already know that chain store sales jumped in the week ending February 5th, which will provide strength for next week’s barometer reading.
On a year-over-year basis, the barometer slowed to +3.5 percent in the week ending January 29, 2011, 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 flat lining 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%), but not so impressive when you compare it to an -8.0 percent drop in 2009.
Posted: February 10, 2011 Thursday 10:00 AM