posted 07-06-2000 06:10 PM         

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Orders placed with U.S. manufacturers posted their biggest jump in more than seven years in May as orders for electronics, chemicals and other durable goods surged, government figures released Thursday showed. (source: CNNfn) http://cnnfn.cnn.com/2000/07/06/economy/economy/

In brief:
- The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell to 296,000 last week from a revised 308,000 the prior week, the U.S. Labor Department said Thursday.

posted 07-05-2000 06:03 PM         

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Crude oil prices continued to sag Wednesday after OPEC President Ali Rodriguez insisted the cartel will raise production only after full consultations and the agreement of all members. (source: CNNfn)
http:// http://cnnfn.com/2000/07/05/markets/oil_prices/

The Conference Board said its Index of Leading Economic Indicators, which forecasts future economic trends, fell 0.1% in May after remaining unchanged in April and inching up 0.1% in March. (source: CNNfn) http://cnnfn.com/2000/07/05/economy/wires/indicators_wg/

posted 06-30-2000 06:34 PM         

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Americans' incomes in May rose twice as fast as their spending, pulling the nation's personal savings rate up to its highest point since the beginning of the year. (source: Washington Post) http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25302-2000Jun30.html

By doing nothing, the Federal Reserve may have done more to keep a lid on the stock market this summer than it possibly could have accomplished by raising interest rates yet again. (source: MSNBC) http://msnbc.com/news/399099.asp

posted 06-29-2000 06:21 PM         

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The chairman of the Federal Trade Commission yesterday laid out his agency's plans to investigate alleged collusion by oil companies, which he described as a possible source of this month's record-high gasoline prices in parts of the Midwest. (source: Washington Post) http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14120-2000Jun28.html

In brief:

- The U.S. economy grew at a bit faster pace than previously estimated in the first quarter of the year, as consumer spending posted its strongest gain in almost 17 years and prices for goods and services crept higher

posted 06-28-2000 05:22 PM         

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Federal Reserve policy makers opted to hold the line on interest rates Wednesday, yet issued a warning to both Wall Street and Main Street that it remains on high alert for signs of accelerating inflation -- something that could lead them to raise rates again down the road. (source: CNNfn) http://cnnfn.com/2000/06/28/economy/fed/

In brief:
- Led by a surge in electronics, orders for new durable goods jumped 6% in May, nearly reversing the 5.7% decline in April, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.

posted 06-26-2000 06:35 PM         

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In brief:

- Sales of existing homes rose at a faster-than-expected pace in May as more buyers completed purchases agreed to earlier in the spring, a real estate group said Monday. At the same time, rising mortgage rates are expected to slow activity in the second half of the year.

posted 06-20-2000 06:22 PM         

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In brief:

- The U.S. trade deficit narrowed in April from a record level as demand for imported goods faltered for the first time in a year-and-a-half and prices for imported oil staged a temporary retreat, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday. Exports remained near record highs

- Alan Greenspan was sworn in for his fourth four-year term as chairman of the Federal Reserve, a job often called the second most powerful in the country because of the central bank's control over interest rates.

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