Research >> Economics
DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer Increased by 1.1%
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For the week ending September 8, 2012, the DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer rose by 1.1 percent following a 0.2 percent decrease in the prior week. On the production side, most of the industries showed increases, except Bituminous and Lignite Production which has been decreasing for three consecutive weeks. In particular Auto and Truck Productions rose significantly by more than 10 percent after the decline in the previous week. As to consumption, Chain Store Sales increased by 1.1 percent following a decrease in the prior week. Meanwhile, Box Office Receipts dropped largely to a lowest level since January 2009.
On a year-over-year basis, the barometer increased by 2.8 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, increased by 0.1 percent, while its year-over-year growth rate increased by 2.0 percent.
Posted: September 20, 2012 Thursday 10:00 AM