Global Economic and business news

1 EUR buys 1.2746 US dollar (USD) - The reference exchange rates are published both by electronic market information providers and on the ECB's website shortly after the concertation procedure has been completed. Reference rates are published according to the same calendar as the TARGET system.

1 EUR buys 1.2727 US dollar (USD) - The reference exchange rates are published both by electronic market information providers and on the ECB's website shortly after the concertation procedure has been completed. Reference rates are published according to the same calendar as the TARGET system.

1 EUR buys 1.2924 US dollar (USD) - The reference exchange rates are published both by electronic market information providers and on the ECB's website shortly after the concertation procedure has been completed. Reference rates are published according to the same calendar as the TARGET system.

New orders for manufactured goods in March increased $5.0 billion or 1.3 percent to $391.5 billion.

March 2010: 1.3 % change
February 2010: 1.3 % change

1 EUR buys 1.3089 US dollar (USD) - The reference exchange rates are published both by electronic market information providers and on the ECB's website shortly after the concertation procedure has been completed. Reference rates are published according to the same calendar as the TARGET system.

1 EUR buys 1.3238 US dollar (USD) - The reference exchange rates are published both by electronic market information providers and on the ECB's website shortly after the concertation procedure has been completed. Reference rates are published according to the same calendar as the TARGET system.

Total construction activity for March 2010 ($847.3 billion) was 0.2 percent above the revised February 2010 ($845.5 billion). Please see our web site for further details: http://www.census.gov/constructionspending

March 2010: 0.2 % change
February 2010: -2.1 % change

1 EUR buys 1.3315 US dollar (USD) - The reference exchange rates are published both by electronic market information providers and on the ECB's website shortly after the concertation procedure has been completed. Reference rates are published according to the same calendar as the TARGET system.

1 EUR buys 1.3256 US dollar (USD) - The reference exchange rates are published both by electronic market information providers and on the ECB's website shortly after the concertation procedure has been completed. Reference rates are published according to the same calendar as the TARGET system.

1 EUR buys 1.3245 US dollar (USD) - The reference exchange rates are published both by electronic market information providers and on the ECB's website shortly after the concertation procedure has been completed. Reference rates are published according to the same calendar as the TARGET system.

1 EUR buys 1.3290 US dollar (USD) - The reference exchange rates are published both by electronic market information providers and on the ECB's website shortly after the concertation procedure has been completed. Reference rates are published according to the same calendar as the TARGET system.

1 EUR buys 1.3321 US dollar (USD) - The reference exchange rates are published both by electronic market information providers and on the ECB's website shortly after the concertation procedure has been completed. Reference rates are published according to the same calendar as the TARGET system.

Homeownership Rate (HR)
The homeownership rate in the first quarter 2010 (67.1 percent) was not statistically different from the first quarter 2009 rate (67.3 percent). In the West, the homeownership rate was lower than a year ago, while no other region showed any significant change from corresponding first quarter 2009 rates.

Rental Vacancy Rate (RVR)
The rental vacancy rate in first quarter 2010 (10.6 percent) was higher than the first quarter 2009 rate (10.1 percent).

Homeowner Vacancy Rate (HVR)
The homeowner vacancy rate in first quarter 2010 (2.6 percent), was not statistically different from the first quarter 2009 rate (2.7 percent).



1st Qtr 2010
(HR): 67.1 percent
1st Qtr 2009
(HR): 67.3 percent

1 EUR buys 1.3311 US dollar (USD) - The reference exchange rates are published both by electronic market information providers and on the ECB's website shortly after the concertation procedure has been completed. Reference rates are published according to the same calendar as the TARGET system.

New orders for manufactured durable goods in March decreased $2.2 billion or 1.3 percent to $176.7 billion.

March 2010: -1.3 % change
February 2010: 1.1 % change