Research >> Economics
DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer Unchanged%
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For the week ending June 30, 2012, the DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer stayed at the same level as in the prior week. Auto Production rose by +4.2 percent in contrast with a fall in Truck Production. Railroad Freight Carloadings showed a pickup after decreasing for two consecutive weeks, and Box Office Receipts jumped by +8.3 percent. Chain Store Sales decelerated its growth after a notable pickup in the previous week.
On a year-over-year basis, the barometer increased by +1.3 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 from the previous week while its year-over-year growth rate increased by +1.0 percent. The smoothed barometer has been increasing moderately since the week ending June 23, 2012, after its revision.
Posted: July 12, 2012 Thursday 10:00 AM