Research >> Economics
DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer decreased 0.5%
For the week ending April 30, 2011, the DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer was down -0.5% following a flat reading in prior week. Inflation-adjusted chain store sales decreased in the latest week, more than reversing the prior week’s gain. Electric output decreased as well dragged down by a weak demand against a backdrop of moderate weather.
On a year-over-year basis, the barometer slowed to +1.5 percent in the week ending April 30, 2011, 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 flat lining 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%), but not so impressive when you compare it to an -8.0 percent drop in 2009.
Posted: May 12, 2011 Thursday 10:00 AM