Research >> Economics
DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer increased 0.5%
For the week ending February 5, 2011, the DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer increased +0.5 percent, rising for a second consecutive week. A rebound in inflation-adjusted chain store sales helped mitigate weakness in housing demand and box office receipts, while cold temps caused a jump in demand for utilities.
On a year-over-year basis, the barometer accelerated to +4.1 percent in the week ending February 5, 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: February 17, 2011 Thursday 10:00 AM