Government revises 4th quarter GDP up slightly to 4.3%
GDP in the October-December quarter rose from an estimated rate last month of 4.1%, the Commerce Department reported Thursday. AdEconomists believe all the government relief measures will boost GDP in the current January-March quarter to 5% or higher. Boussour forecast GDP growth for the full year of 7% with annualized growth rates close to 10% in the spring and summer. GDP fell at an annual rate of 5% in the first quarter of 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic ended the country's record-long economic expansion, which was in its 11th year. GDP plunged by a record 31.4% rate in the April-June quarter and then rebounded by a record rate of 33.4% in the third quarter before slowing to the 4.3% gain in the fourth quarter.
Orders for manufactured goods tumbled 1.1% last month
The Commerce Department reported Wednesday, March 24, 2021, that orders for durable goods declined last month for the first time after nine consecutive monthly gains including a sizable 3.5% rise in January. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)WASHINGTON โ Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket manufactured goods slumped 1.1% in February with demand in a key sector that tracks business investment also dropping. Orders had been rising for nine consecutive months, including a sizable 3.5% jump in January, according to the Commerce Department. The category that covers business investment dropped 0.8% in February following solid gains of 0.6% in January and 1.5% in December. AdThe report Wednesday showed that excluding transportation, orders would still have fallen by 0.9% in February.
Orders for U.S. durable goods climb 3.4% in January
Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket goods shot up 3.4% in January 2021, pulled up by surge in orders for civilian aircraft. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)WASHINGTON โ Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket goods shot up 3.4% in January, pulled up by surge in orders for civilian aircraft. Orders for civilian aircraft and parts jumped 389.9%. Excluding transportation equipment, which can bounce wildly from month to month, durable goods orders were up a solid 1.4%. AdA category economists watch for hints at future investment -- orders for nondefense capital goods excluding aircraft โ rose 0.5%.
US durable goods orders show modest 0.2% December gain
Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticketed manufactured goods rose a moderate 0.9% in November with a key category that tracks business investment plans showing a gain. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)WASHINGTON โ Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket manufactured goods rose a modest 0.2% in December, held back by a big drop in the volatile aircraft sector. Economists had expected total orders would post a stronger advance of around 1% in December but noted that the overall gain was held back by the big drop in aircraft orders. Excluding transportation orders, total orders rose 0.7% in December, and that followed a 0.8% rise in November. โThe December data are signaling still strong but slower growth in both business investment and equipment spending.โ
Construction materials fall on, kill delivery driver at Home Depot in Florida
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. โ A delivery driver was killed Sunday night when a load of construction materials fell on him at a Home Depot store in Florida, police said. News outlets report that a load of drywall struck 47-year-old Cyrenus Leroy Amon around 7:30 p.m. at a Home Depot store in St. Petersburg. Amon was delivering materials for United States Gypsum Co., St. Petersburg police spokeswoman Yolanda Fernandez told news outlets. The USG statement didn't name the carrier. โWeโre deeply saddened by this tragic accident, and our thoughts are with the family and loved ones,โ Home Depot said in a statement.
Home Depot recalls more than 190,000 ceiling fans after blades fly off
FILE - In this Aug. 27, 2019 file photo, the Home Depot logo is shown on a store in Bloomington, Minn. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)More than 190,000 ceiling fans sold at Home Depot are being recalled after reports that the blades fell off while spinning, hitting people and causing property damage. The Hampton Bay Mara indoor and outdoor ceiling fans were sold this year between April and October at Home Depot stores and its website. | Strange Florida: Hereโs the proof]The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said it received 47 reports of the blades falling off, two reports of people being hit by them and four reports of the blades causing property damage. King of Fans, which makes the ceiling fans, published a video on its website with instructions on how to inspect the fan. The company said it will replace any of the faulty ceiling fans for free.
Orders for big-ticket manufactured goods up 0.9% in November
Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticketed manufactured goods rose a moderate 0.9% in November with a key category that tracks business investment plans showing a gain. The Commerce Department said Wednesday, Dec. 23 that the November gain in orders for durable goods, items expected to last at least three years, followed stronger gains in recent months including a 3.8% rise in October. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)WASHINGTON โ Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticketed manufactured goods rose a moderate 0.9% in November with a key category that tracks business investment plans showing a gain. The November gain in orders for durable goods, items expected to last at least three years, followed stronger gains in recent months including a 3.8% rise in October, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. Analysts are concerned that business investment could begin to fade if the resurgence of the coronavirus curtails demand.
Veteranโs family receives free gifts and decorations ahead of Christmas
A Christmas tree, decorations, and dozens of gifts were all placed outside her home for her children to see. Home Depot surprises local veteran's families ahead of the holidays. Home Depot surprises local veteran's families ahead of the holidays. (Image: Ezzy Castro/WKMG) (WKMG 2020)But despite the tears, Brantley and her family said Christmas is not just about gifts or giving, itโs something way more special than that. The Home Depot Foundation and Volunteers of America Florida were able to donate gifts to two other veteran families in Brevard County.
State-run coronavirus testing sites open at Home Depot stores in Oviedo, Leesburg
All Rights Reserved)OVIEDO, Fla. Two new state-run testing sites are coming to Central Florida. The sites are located at the Home Depot at 1900 West State Road 426 in Oviedo and the Home Depot along Highway 441 in Leesburg. Both sites will be open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Officials said up to 400 tests will be conducted daily. In addition, starting Friday the Orange County Convention Center will debut symptomatic lanes for people showing symptoms of COVID-19. Ron DeSantis said it will help patients get their results faster since many tests are taking a long turn-around time.
If stores and factories can be open, so can schools, U.S. labor secretary says
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia and Gov. Ron DeSantis addressed concerns about reopening Floridas schools this fall amid the ongoing pandemic by comparing them to essential businesses such as grocery stores and factories. Weve had our factories in this country open throughout the pandemic.DeSantis echoed the secretary of labor speaking of schools being essential. Big box stores have remained open throughout the pandemic in Florida with few restrictions. Weve even got tattoo parlors open and hair salons, were ready to open our schools.