By Kevin Kastner

WASHINGTON (MNI) - The value of new factory orders rose 0.1% in July on the strong aircraft-led gain in durable goods orders, offset by flat nondurable goods orders, data released by the Commerce Department Thursday morning showed.

By Kevin Kastner

WASHINGTON (MNI) - U.S. nonfarm unit productivity was revised down to a 1.8% decline at an annual rate in the second quarter, while unit labor costs were revised up to a 1.1% rise, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Thursday.

By Kevin Kastner and Ian McKendry

WASHINGTON (MNI) - Initial claims for U.S. state unemployment benefits fell by 6,000 to 472,000 in the August 28 week after seasonal adjustment, according to data released by the U.S. Labor Department Thursday.

WASHINGTON (MNI) - The following are excerpts from the summary of the National Association of Credit Management's Credit Manager's Index report for August, published Wednesday:

August CMI Shows Modest Recovery Despite a Continued Weak Service Sector

By Kevin Kastner

WASHINGTON (MNI) - Spending on construction fell 1.0% in July and was revised sharply lower in both May and June, data released by the Commerce Department Thursday morning showed.

By Kevin Kastner

WASHINGTON (MNI) - There were 34,768 layoff intentions announced in August, down 17% from the 41,676 layoffs in July and down sharply from the 76,454 job cuts announced in August 2009, job placement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas, Inc. said in a report released Wednesday. The data are not seasonally adjusted.

Total layoffs in August, which were led by the industrial and government sectors, was the lowest monthly total since June 2000.

WASHINGTON (MNI) - The following is the text of the weekly retail sales report released by Johnson Redbook Tuesday, for the month-to-date through the week-ended August 28:

The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index was up 3.0% in the fourth and final week of August following a 2.6% gain the prior week. Month-to-date, August was up 2.8% compared to August of last year (in-line with the target). Month-over-month showed a 1.0% gain compared to July (also in-line with the target).

WASHINGTON (MNI) - The following is the commentary from the ICSC-Goldman Sachs Weekly Chain Store Sales Snapshot released Tuesday: