Overview: Industrial production rose 0.1% in February.  The Fed held constant its target for the federal funds rate at 0.0%-0.25%.  Building permits fell 1.6% in February as housing starts declined 5.9%.  The topline producer price index fell 0.6% in February while the topline consumer price index was unchanged.  Both the core PPI and core CPI rose 0.1% in February.  The U.S. current account deficit widened 13.0% to $115.6 billion in the 4th quarter.  Initial jobless claims fell by 5,000 to a level of 457,000 for the week ended 3/13.

Industrial production edged up 0.1% in February, marking the eighth straight month of increase.  Industrial production is up 5% from its low, but remains 10% below its pre-recession peak in December of 2007.
 
The Fed held constant its target for the federal funds rate in a range of 0.0%-0.25% at its meeting this week.

Building permits fell 1.6% to an annual pace of 612,000 units in February.

Housing starts declined 5.9% to an annual pace of 575,000 units in February.

The topline producer price index fell 0.6% in February; the core PPI rose 0.1%.

The topline consumer price index was unchanged in February; the core CPI rose 0.1%.

The U.S. current account deficit widened 13.0% in the 4th quarter of 2009 to $115.6 billion.

Initial jobless claims fell by 5,000 to 457,000 for the week ended March 13th.