Economic trends.

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.

Inflation Indicator Result Source Trend/Significance Consumer Price Decreased 0.1 Bureau of Over the last 12 Index percent in Labor months the all- October Statistics items index (seasonally increased to 3.5 adjusted) percent (before seasonal adjustment) Producer Price Declined 0.3% Bureau of Prices for Index in October Labor finished goods (seasonally Statistics climbed 5.9 adjusted) percent for the last 12 months Confidence Indicator Result Source Trend/Significance Consumer 39.8 in Conference A reading above 90 Confidence October, down Board would signal a from 46.4 the stabilized previous month consumer Conference Lynn Franco, Director of The Conference Board Board Consumer Research Center, said: Commentary "Consumer confidence is now back to levels last seen during the 2008-2009 recession. Consumer expectations, which had improved in September, gave back all of the gain and then some, as concerns about business conditions, the labor market, and income prospects...