Economic trends.

• Position: News & Numbers - Table

Many people are paying more attention to economic trends than they did before the credit meltdown. The GFOA's new Long-Term Financial Planning blog provides frequent updates on important issues and topics of interest, including a monthly summary of relevant statistics. Government Finance Review is reprinting an excerpt of those statistics to help GFOA members keep track of the overall economic picture. To access the Long-Term Financial Planning blog, go to ltfp.gfoa.org.

Inflation Indicator Result Source Consumer Price Index Declined 0.1 percent Bureau of from March to April Labor Statistics Producer Price Index Declined 0.1 percent Bureau of from March to April Labor Statistics Confidence Indictor Result Source Consumer Confidence At 63.3 in May, up Confidence Board from 57.7 in April Economic Growth Indictor Result Source Gross Domestic Q4 2010 GDP grew at an Bureau of Product (GDP) annualized 3.0 percent rate Economic Analysis Housing & Real Estate Indictor Result Source Case-Schiller "The housing market may be in better shape Commentary than this time last year, but, when you look at recent trends there are signs of some renewed weakening in home prices," says David M. Blitzer, Chairman of the Index Committee at Standard & Poor's. "In the past several months, we have seen some relatively weak reports across many of the markets we cover. Thirteen MSAs and the two composites saw their prices drop in March over February. Boston was flat. The National Composite fell by 32% compared to the previous quarter, and the two composites are down for the sixth consecutive month." Commercial Real According to the National Association of Estate Realtors, sales prices declined 17% in the fourth quarter on a year-over-year basis; average vacancy rates increased 6% from the third quarter of the yean and rental rates were down 9% compared with the previous quarter. Foreclosure The number of strategic defaults on mortgages (where foreclosure was initiated by homeowners who were underwater but could have met with their payments) is at 31% of all foreclosures, compared to 22% at this time last year, according to Northwestern University researchers. Employment Indictor Result Source Unemployment Rose 9.9 percent in April Bureau of Rate (U3) from 9,7 percent in March Labor Statistics...