Research >> Economics
DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer was unch%
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For the week ending August 4, 2012, the DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer remained unchanged following leveling-off in the prior week. Auto Production increased for three consecutive weeks and Railroad Freight Carloadings picked up after decreases for three weeks in a row. However, these increases were offset by decreases in other components; Lumber Production and Electric Output dropped and Chain Store Sales also decreased slightly following a large drop in the previous week.
On a year-over-year basis, the barometer increased by +1.6 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 from the previous week, while its year-over-year growth rate increased by +1.7 percent.
Posted: August 16, 2012 Thursday 10:00 AM