Research >> Economics
DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer Decreased by 0.1%
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For the week ending October 13, 2012, the DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer decreased slightly by 0.1 percent following a 0.4 percent increase in the prior week. This week’s modest drop results from declines and leveling-off seen in a number of industries. Auto and Truck Production decreased again after picking up in the previous week. Although these moves are somewhat erratic, the production level is on the upward trend since May 2012. Steel Production and Railroad Freight Carloadings had similar moves as automotive industry, which declined by 1.1 and 2.4 percent, respectively, following increases in the prior week. An industry showed an increase this week was Lumber Production, which rose by 2.8 percent.
On a year-over-year basis, the barometer increased by 1.7 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, while its year-over-year growth rate was 1.7 percent.
Posted: October 25, 2012 Thursday 10:00 AM