Economic trends.

• Position: News & Numbers

Many people are paying more attention to economic trends than they did before the credit meltdown. The GFOA's 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.

Confidence Indicator Result Source Consumer Confidence At 45.5 in September Conference Board up from 45.2 in August Economic Growth Indicator Result Source GDP Up at an annual rate Commerce Department of 1.3 percent in Q2 2011 Durable Goods Orders Down 0.1 percent Commerce Department in August from July ISM Manufacturing Index Up to 51.6 in Institute for Supply September from 50.6 Management in August ISM Service Index Down to 53.0 in Institute for Supply September from 53.3 Management in August Consumer Economy Indicator Result Source Personal Consumption Up 0.2 percent Bureau of Expenditures in August over July Economic Analysis Personal Income Down 0.1 percent Bureau of in August over July Economic Analysis Retail Sales Up 1.1 percent from Census September over July Housing and Real Estate Indicator Result Source Housing Starts Up 3.2 percent Census in August over July New Residential Home Down 2.3 percent Census Sales in August over July Existing Home Sales Up 7.7 percent National Association in August over July of Realtors Median Home Prices Up 0.9 percent S&P/Case Shiller in July over...