Research Center

U.S. retail sales edged up 0.7 percent in November compared with October, the Census Bureau reported.

The Rockefeller Foundation reported recently that total state tax collections increased during the second quarter of 2013, the latest in a string of quarterly increases and an indication that the contraction of state government–which represented a major headwind for the entire U.S. economy during the worst of the recession–is over.

Congress, which served as a drag on the economy in 2013 with its uncertainty-generating behavior, took a small step toward more consistent policymaking in 2014–it is an election year, after all–by passing a modest budget deal.

The Federal Reserve reported that U.S. household net worth increased in the third quarter, reaching a new high of nearly $77.3 trillion in 3Q13 compared with $75.3 trillion in 2Q13.

A number of major sectors of the economy created jobs in November, according to the mostly positive jobs report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The U.S. economy created 203,000 jobs in November, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly the same as in October, and a bit more than expected.

The Census Bureau reported a spike in new home sales, with sales at an annualized rate of 440,000 units in October, compared with 354,000 units in September, which represents an increase of 25.4 percent for the month.

CoreLogic reported that the increase in home prices nationally—including distressed sales—slowed down in October, rising only 0.2 percent compared with September.