Maybe we can put to rest, the sly, opportunistic talk that the Obama economic recovery is faltering [View all]

[bigtree]

. . . ya think?


US economy picks up after early spring slump

May 16, 2012

Maybe the U.S. economy’s strength this winter wasn’t just weather-related after all.

Home construction is near a three-year high. And factory output has risen in three of the year’s first four months.

The data released Wednesday suggest growth in the April-June quarter is off to a good start, helped by falling gas prices and solid hiring gains. Fears of a spring slump are easing.

“It’s all very encouraging,’’ said Paul Ashworth, chief U.S. economist at Capital Economics. “Things look good at the moment.’’


read: http://articles.boston.com/2012-05-16/business/31730014_1_factory-output-economists-annual-pace

related:

Beginning Home Construction in U.S. Exceeded Forecasts in April
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-16/beginning-home-construction-in-u-s-exceeded-forecasts-in-april.html

Builders start construction on more homes in April
http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/1091-housing/227711-builders-start-construction-on-more-homes-in-april



from the Commerce Dept.:

New Residential Construction
Submitted on May 16, 2012 - 8:47am

Building permits in April 2012 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 715,000, down 7.0 percent from the revised March rate but up 23.7 percent from April 2011. Housing starts in April 2012 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 717,000, up 2.6 percent from March’s revised estimate and up 29.9 percent from April 2011.
http://www.esa.doc.gov/sites/default/files/ei/documents/2012/May/newresidentialconstruction28april201229.pdf