U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes – June 2010: “U.S. import prices declined for the second consecutive month in June, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, decreasing 1.3 percent. The drop was driven by declining fuel prices, although a downturn
in nonfuel prices also contributed to the overall decrease. Export prices also fell in June, edging down 0.2 percent following three consecutive monthly increases. All Imports: Prices of U.S. imports fell 1.3 percent in June after a 0.5 percent drop the previous month. The decrease was the largest monthly decline since a 1.3 percent decline in January 2009, which was also the last time the index fell in consecutive months. Despite the recent declines, import prices advanced 4.5 percent for the year ended in June, down on a 12-month basis from an 8.7 percent increase for the May 2009-2010 period.”
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Daily Archives: July 14, 2010
House Passes Telework Improvements Act of 2010
News release: “Today, in a bipartisan vote, (290 -131) the House of Representatives approved Congressman John Sarbanes Telework Improvements Act of 2010. This bill will expand telework opportunities for all federal workers, allowing employees to perform their duties and responsibilities from home or another work site removed from their regular place of employment. I believe… Continue Reading
EPA Launches National Water Conservation Campaign
News release: “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys (EPAs) WaterSense program today is kicking off its national Were for Water campaign to encourage Americans to make simple choices that save water. The program, in collaboration with its partner, American Water, will spread the word about saving water by traveling cross-country, stopping at national landmarks and educating… Continue Reading
Congressional Oversight Panel Evaluates Small Banks in the Capital Purchase Program
“The Congressional Oversight Panel’s July oversight report, Small Banks in the Capital Purchase Program, found that the result of the Capital Purchase Program’s (CPP) “one-size-fits-all” repayment terms has been that large banks have been much better served by the program than smaller institutions. Small banks may find it difficult or impossible to exit the program,… Continue Reading
CBO: Using Biofuel Tax Credits to Achieve Energy and Environmental Policy Goals
Using Biofuel Tax Credits to Achieve Energy and Environmental Policy Goals, July 2010 “Roughly 11 billion gallons of biofuels were produced and sold in the United States in 2009, and ethanol produced from corn accounted for nearly all (about 10.8 billion gallons) of that total. Blenders of transportation fuels receive a tax credit of 45… Continue Reading
CEA Releases Fourth Quarterly Report on the Economic Impact of the Recovery Act
Executive Office of the President, Council of Economic Advisers – The Economic Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Fourth Quarterly Report, July 14, 2010 “As part of the unprecedented accountability and transparency provisions included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) is… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports: Afghanistan Development, Commercial Aviation, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Passport Issuance
Afghanistan Development: Enhancements to Performance Management and Evaluation Efforts Could Improve USAID’s Agricultural Programs, GAO-10-368, July 14, 2010 Commercial Aviation: Better Information about Airline-Imposed Fees and the Refundability of Government-Imposed Taxes and Fees Could Benefit Consumers, GAO-10-885T, July 14, 2010 Commercial Aviation: Consumers Could Benefit from Better Information about Airline-Imposed Fees and Refundability of Government-Imposed… Continue Reading
Census Releases 2008 Annual Surveys of State and Local Government Finances
State and Local Government Spending Increases by 6.5 Percent in 2008, Census Bureau Reports: “State and local government spending increased by 6.5 percent in 2008, totaling more than $2.8 trillion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Education topped government spending ($826.1 billion), followed by public welfare ($404.6 billion), insurance trust expenditures ($234.6 billion), utilities ($193.4… Continue Reading
ALM Law Librarian Survey 2010
Law Librarian Survey 2010: More Bang, Less Bucks, Alan Cohen, The American Lawyer, July 15, 2010 “Faced with major challenges, including less staff, tighter budgets, and price-increase-happy publishers who, as one library chief puts it, “must live on another planet,” law firm librarians have developed new strategies to cope. The 80 librarians who participated in… Continue Reading
Federal Agencies Release Annual Report to Congress on Scholarship Fraud
News release: “The Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Education have issued their annual report to Congress pursuant to the College Scholarship Fraud Prevention Act, describing their continued efforts to combat scholarship and financial aid fraud. Each year, millions of students seek help in financing their college education, and some… Continue Reading
Rand: Measuring the Effectiveness of Border Security Between Ports-of-Entry
Measuring the Effectiveness of Border Security Between Ports-of-Entry, by Henry H. Willis, Joel B. Predd, Paul K. Davis, Wayne P. Brown “This report offers research and recommendations on ways to measure the overall efforts of the national border-security enterprise between ports of entry. Focusing on three missions illegal drug control, Counterterrorism, and illegal migration… Continue Reading
