New jobless claims drop for first time in 4 weeks
However, about 10.1 million people were receiving unemployment checks in the week ended Aug. 7, the latest data available.
That’s up about 260,000 from the previous week.
Economy
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Durable goods orders tick up, but business spending slides
Without the volatile transportation sector, orders dropped 3.8 percent—the steepest decline since January. Businesses
spent less on equipment and machines. Orders for capital goods fell 8 percent.
Two reasons for optimism about a local housing recovery
Pending sales are shooting up this month, and list prices are edging up over the long haul, a broker notes.
Do manufacturers ever get to rest? (No.)
Manufacturers continue to wring more from less. But have the gains been worth the human cost?
Indiana, Indy stage small employment gains
Indiana’s unemployment rate increased by a sliver, to 10.2 percent, in July despite increases in jobs in many industries.
Debating the place of the U.S. in the global economy
China and India are quickly moving toward reestablishing their historical roles as two of the world’s biggest economies.
Where will the U.S. fit in?
Market losses hammer Indiana colleges
Three institutions flagged by U.S. Department of Education financial responsibility test.
HICKS: Expectations can’t erase sluggish recovery
While the economy continues to recover, the pace is agonizingly slow. The reasons for this are becoming clear.
How have state workers fared under performance pay? Good question.
Inconsistencies make comparisons a heavy lift.
U.S. effectively bankrupt, economist says
Boston University’s Kotlikoff warns the U.S. is actually in worse shape than Greece.
New jobless claims hit highest level in six months
Initial claims for unemployment benefits have now risen in three of the last four weeks and are close to their high point
for the year of 490,000, reached in late January.
Productivity falls for first time since 2008
Worker productivity declined at an annual rate of 0.9 percent in the April-to-June quarter after posting large gains throughout
2009, the Labor Department said Tuesday.
Hyundai hole in Indiana
The rising Korean industrial giant is building another plant in the U.S., but not in Indiana.
Counties brace for big tax losses next year
Indiana counties will receive $1.3 billion in income tax revenue in 2011, nearly 16 percent less than they did this year.
Marion and Hamilton counties will suffer major reductions in distributions.
Stocks retreat after disappointing jobs report
The disappointing jobs data magnifies worries that slowing growth could end up leading the country back into recession during
the second half of the year.
New claims for jobless benefits jump again
Initial requests for jobless benefits rose last week to their highest level since April, a sign that hiring remains weak and
some companies are still cutting workers.
Consumer spending, personal incomes stagnant
Personal spending was unchanged in June, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday. It was the third straight month of lackluster
consumer demand. Incomes were also flat, the weakest showing in nine months.
Economic growth likely slowed in second quarter
Economists expect the government to report Friday that economic growth slowed in the April-to-June quarter as consumers bought
less, builders pulled back further, and cash-hungry state and local governments cut spending.
Hoosier firms find cutting costs no substitute for growth
The gains amid economic malaise are impressive, but also unsustainable. Companies can’t continue to grow earnings forever based on cost-cutting.
Auer: Dow 20,000 by 2020
Fund manager says rational thinking suggests the future is actually quite bright.