Research >> Economics
DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer declined by 0.1%
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For the week ending August 11, 2012, the DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer dropped by -0.1 percent following the slight decrease in the prior week. The drop this week reflects declines in Electric Output and Truck Production, which have been decreasing for two weeks in a row. Also, Chain Store Sales dropped this week again for the third consecutive week. On the other hand, Auto Production increased for the fourth consecutive week and Lumber Production picked up after dropping sharply in the previous week.
On a year-over-year basis, the barometer increased by +1.8 percent, 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 flatlining 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 percent), but not so impressive when compared to an -8.0 percent drop in 2009. The barometer increased by +2.2 percent in 2011 at a somewhat slower pace compared to 2010.
The smoothed version of the barometer, which attempts to account for weekly volatility, was flat for the second consecutive week, while its year-over-year growth rate increased by +1.9 percent.
Posted: August 23, 2012 Thursday 10:00 AM