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June 4, 2014 WTI expects June 2014 to trend similar to last year and above normal for the U.S. as a whole.  Cooler and more normal temperatures can be expected from the Western Plains to the Rocky Mountain states.  Temperatures will be cooler than last year along the West Coast, but still above normal with... Read more »

June 2, 2014 Last week:  For the second week in a row, the bond market made the biggest headlines.  The Federal Reserve is tapering down its quantitative easing (buying fewer bonds) and the economy is catching up from a bad winter.  With sentiment up, strong job growth and some renewed strength in the ordering rate,... Read more »

The May PMI registered 55.4 percent, an increase of 0.5 percentage point from April’s reading of 54.9 percent, indicating expansion in manufacturing for the 12th consecutive month.  The New Orders Index registered 56.9 percent, an increase of 1.8 percentage points from the 55.1 percent reading in April, indicating growth in new orders for the 12th... Read more »

May 29, 2014 Fred’s wants to be what it calls “the convenient small box store of choice” and to achieve that goal, it has embarked on a two-pronged strategy focused on general merchandise and pharmacy. Neither business is new for Fred’s, an operator of 704 stores throughout the Southeast, but the need for a new... Read more »

May 27, 2014 Target will test same-day delivery in three markets as the online shipping war among retailers continues to gain momentum.  Target will launch a $10 rush delivery pilot in June in the Minneapolis, Boston and Miami markets, offering guests the ability to order as late as 1:30 p.m. in the afternoon and receive... Read more »

May 29, 2014 Solid sales growth at Costco during the second quarter and a 6% same store sales increase at U.S. clubs did not translate into strong profits for the warehouse club operator whose earnings fell shy of analysts’ estimates. Costco’s worldwide revenues for the 12 week period ended May 11 increased 7.1% to nearly... Read more »

May 29, 2014 Production of apartments and condominiums showed positive growth in the first quarter of 2014, according to the latest Multifamily Production Index (MPI), released today by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).  The index increased three points to 53, which is the ninth consecutive quarter with a reading of 50 or above.... Read more »

May 27, 2014 Last week: The Conference Board Leading Economic Index continues to point toward more solid footing for the U.S. economy.  Investors remain skeptical.  After the drop in bond yields last week, yields moved very little this week.  Are consumers equally skeptical?  This week’s consumer confidence report will show whether consumers remain in a... Read more »

May 27, 2014 The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which had decreased in April, improved moderately in May.  The Index now stands at 83.0, up from 81.7 in April.  The Present Situation Index increased to 80.4 from 78.5, while the Expectations Index edged up to 84.8 from 83.9 in April. Says Lynn Franco, Director of... Read more »