Economy/Ecommerce

Personal income increased $47.3 billion, or 0.3 percent in August, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Real U.S. gross domestic product increased at an annualized rate of 4.6 percent during the second quarter of 2014, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ final estimate.

Sales of new single-family houses in August were an annualized rate of 504,000 units, according to the Census Bureau and HUD.

More evidence that the residential expansion this time isn’t a bubble: According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, U.S. home prices were up 0.1 percent in July compared with June.

The National Association of Realtors reported that U.S. existing home sales decreased 1.8 percent to an annualized rate of 5.05 million units in August, compared with 5.14 million in July.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 24 states and the District of Columbia suffered unemployment rate increases in August compared with July, while 15 states had decreases, and 11 experienced no change.

The Census Bureau reported that private housing starts in August came in at an annualized rate of 956,000 units, a drop of 14.4 percent compared with July, when the rate was more than 1.11 million units.

The Federal Reserve’s unprecedented stimulus of the economy, sometimes known by the shorthand QE3, seems to be on its last legs.