Research >> Economics
DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer Decreased by 1.1%
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For the week ending September 15, 2012, the DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer decreased by 1.1 percent following a 1.1 percent increase in the prior week. In contrast to increases in the production side last week, many industries declined this week. Auto and Truck Productions dropped largely after rising by more than 10 percent, respectively. Lumber Production, Railroad Freight Carloadings, and Electric Output also decreased, while Bituminous and Lignite Production showed a pick up following three weeks consecutive declines. On the consumption side, Chain Store Sales dropped by 2.2 percent again after picking up in the previous week.
On a year-over-year basis, the barometer increased by 1.5 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, was flat, while its year-over-year growth rate was 1.9 percent.
Posted: September 27, 2012 Thursday 10:00 AM