Research >> Economics
DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer Decreased by 0.1%
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For the week ending October 6, 2012, the DJ-BTMU U.S. Business Barometer increased by 0.4 percent following a 0.1 percent drop in the prior week. A moderate rise this week is due to rebound seen in most of the industries. Auto and Truck Production picked up by 3.3 and 4.0 percent, respectively, after both dropping by 0.5 percent. Also Steel Production rose sharply by 3.6 percent after a 1.8 percent drop and Railroad Freight Carloadings increased following decline for three consecutive weeks. Electric Output continues to show a robust increase for the second consecutive week. Chain Store Sales this week increased only slightly after decreasing in the previous week. Those declined marginally this week were Lumber Production and Bituminous and Lignite Production.
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, while its year-over-year growth rate was 1.6 percent.
Posted: October 18, 2012 Thursday 10:00 AM