Economic trends.

Many people are paying more attention to economic trends than they did before the credit meltdown. The GFO.Ns 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 Trend/ Significance Consumer Price Increased 0.3 Bureau of Cost of living Index percent in Labor is up 1.1 August from Statistics percent over July the past 12 months Producer Price Increased 0.4 Bureau of Up 3.1 percent Index percent in Labor for the 12 August from Statistics months ended July August 2010 Confidence Indicator Result Source Trend/ Significance Consumer At 48.5 in Conference A reading above Confidence September from Board 90 would signal 53.2 in August a stabilized consumer Conference Says Lynn Franco, Director of The Conference Board Board Consumer Research Center. "Septembers pull-back in Commentary confidence was due to less favorable business and labor market conditions, coupled with a more pessimistic short-term outlook. Overall, consumers' confidence in the state of the economy remains quite grim. And, with so few expecting conditions to improve in the near term, the pace of economic growth is not likely to pick up in the coming months." Economic Growth Indicator Result Source...