Research >> Economics
DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer declined -0.3%
For the week ending September 18, 2010, the DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer declined by -0.3 percent on top of an unrevised -0.1 percent in the prior week. Seventy percent of the barometer’s components lost ground in the latest week with a decline in mortgage applications, truck production, and lumber production carrying over from the prior week. Inflation-adjusted chain store sales tanked in the latest week, which was largely unexplainable given reports of cooler weather and strong foot traffic at department and apparel stores. The drop in chain store sales alone accounted for -0.2 percentage points of the barometer’s decline. Looking over the past quarter’s performance, whether judging the barometer on an annualized basis or quarter-to-quarter basis, the data has confirmed a distinct slowing in the U.S. economy in the third quarter.
Posted: September 30, 2010 Thursday 10:00 AM