Economic trends.

• Position: News & Numbers

Many people are paying more attention to economic trends than they did before the credit meltdown. Financing the Future News." Long-Term Financial Planning Resources, Notices, and Events--an electronic newsletter from the GFOA's Research and Consulting Center--provides its subscribers with a monthly summary of relevant statistics. Government Finance Review will reprint an excerpt of those statistics in this and subsequent issues to help GFOA members keep track of the overall economic picture. (To be added to the mailing list for Financing the Future News, e-mail ltfp@gfoa.org.)

Confidence Indicator Result Source Consumer Confidence Increased to 39.2 in The late April from 26.9 in Conference March (100 is neutral) Board Economic Growth Indicator Result Source Gross Domestic Revised 2008 Q4 GDP to Commerce Product (GDP) 6.3 percent annualized Department contraction UCLA Prediction Forecast a GDP decline of 7 percent for 2009 Q1, 4.5 growth. Unemployment a 1.7 percent decline in Q3, and then a slow return to growth. Unemployment will Leak at 10.5 percent in mid 2010 ISM Manufacturing Increased to 40.1 in Institute for Supply Index April from 36.3 in March Management ISM Service Index Increased to 43.7 in Institute for Supply April from 40.8 in March Management Consumer Economy Indicator Result Source Auto Sales Decreased 37 percent in Wall Street Journal March year over year Consumer Economy Indicator Result Source Future Employment According to a...