Toys imports into the United States tumbled 9 percent year-over-year in September, as the country’s retailers apparently chose caution over Christmas cheer heading into the 2011 holiday season, according to figures from The Journal of Commerce/PIERS. The drop in container volume, most of it from China, was the eighth straight for toys coming into the [...]
According to the Illinois Association of REALTORS (IAR) latest report, statewide home sales (including single family and condominiums) in September 2011 totaled 9,182 homes sold, up 13.5 percent from 8,088 home sales in September 2010. The statewide median price in September was $136,850, down 5.6 percent from $145,000 in September 2010. The median is a [...]
Commodities were broadly lower in September as market participants grew increasingly concerned about the extent of the global growth slowdown. Nelson Louie, Global Head of Commodities in Credit Suisse’s Asset Management division, said, “Investor and consumer sentiment has continued to deteriorate and this may further impact the rate of economic growth. However, fundamentals for certain [...]
The U.S. office market absorbed approximately 9.4 million square feet of space in the third quarter of 2011, bringing the year-to-date total to more than 24.5 million square feet, eclipsing 2010 levels by more than 75 percent. While vacancy levels continue to decline, the lack of job creation could spell a future slowdown in occupancy [...]