Sales of new homes increased 1 percent in April, based largely on the strength of activity in the nation’s Midwest region, according to a report released by the U.S. Commerce Department.
DuPont Commercial Flooring formed of the DuPont Antron Sustainability Advisory Council. This third-party network of volunteer multidisciplinary experts will help DuPont Commercial Flooring understand and manage the total environmental impact of DuPont Antron fiber over the entire lifecycle of commercial flooring applications.
Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket goods jumped 1.1 percent in April, with demand especially strong for cars, communications equipment and machinery.
The Index of Leading Economic indicators fell 0.4 percent in April -- the first decline since a 0.6 percent drop in September 2001 -- after rising 0.1 percent in March.
U.S. consumer sentiment rose in early May to its highest level in 18 months as improvement in the stock market, better economic reports and relative calm in the Mideast lifted consumers' spirits.
Following exceptionally strong production in this year's first quarter that was driven in part by very good weather conditions, nationwide housing starts retreated 5.4 percent in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.56 million units.
Building materials maker James Hardie Industries NV reported a sharp jump in fourth quarter profit, at the top end of market forecasts, and rewarded shareholders with a $91 million capital return.
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