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April 24, 2014 A growing economy, pent-up demand, competitive mortgage rates and affordable home prices will keep housing on an upward trajectory through 2015.  However, several obstacles including tight consumer credit, shortages of lots and labor and rising materials prices are hindering a more robust recovery, according to economists who participated in yesterday’s National Association... Read more »

April 25, 2014 The Bureau of Economic Analysis released today – for the first time – gross domestic product (GDP) by industry for 22 industry sectors on a quarterly basis.  These new statistics fill an important gap in U.S. federal economic statistics by providing timely information on how individual industries contributed to U.S. economic growth... Read more »

Gross output will correct the fallacy fostered by GDP that consumer spending drives the economy. April 22, 2014 Starting April 25, the Bureau of Economic Analysis will release a new way to measure the economy each quarter.  It’s called gross output, and it’s the first significant macroeconomic tool to come into regular use since gross... Read more »

April 24, 2014 Safeway posted sales of $8.3 billion in the first quarter of 2014, representing an increase of 1%.  The slight uptick in sales was primarily attributed to an identical-store sales (excluding fuel) increase of 1.8%, partly offset by lower fuel sales in 2014. This increase of 1.8% consists of a 1% increase in... Read more »

April 23, 2014 Things are looking good for Supervalu, which reported fourth quarter fiscal 2014 net sales of $4 billion, up 1.4%, and net earnings of $26 million, or $0.10 per diluted share. “Fiscal 2014 was an important transition year for Supervalu as we stabilized the organization and set the foundation for our future,” stated... Read more »

April 23, 2014 Sales of newly built, single-family homes fell 14.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 384,000 units in March, according to data released today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. “We keep hearing from our members that tight credit conditions are preventing many... Read more »

April 18, 2014 Those looking to understand how the retail industry will perform in the second quarter and beyond can gain an interesting perspective from the outlook shared by one of the world’s largest diversified packaging companies. First quarter sales in the display and packaging division at Sonoco increased 6% to $153 million and operating... Read more »

April 21, 2014 The Conference Board Leading Economic Index for the U.S. increased 0.8 percent in March to 100.9, following a 0.5 percent increase in February, and a 0.2 percent increase in January. “The LEI rose sharply again, the third consecutive month increase,” said Ataman Ozyildrim, Economist at The Conference Board.  “After a winter pause,... Read more »

April 21, 2014 Last Week: With winter weather in the rearview mirror, the big question now is how much bounce will demand get – with shoppers finally able to get out and about.  Weather may be the big reason why the economy underperformed in the first quarter.  Good weather may be the reason why the... Read more »