News release: “The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision has evaluated the impact of Basel II and Basel III on trade finance in the context of low income countries. As a result, it adopted two technical changes to the Basel regulatory capital adequacy framework related to the treatment of trade finance that will help promote trade …

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News release: “The Federal Housing Finance Agency, with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises), today announced a series of changes to the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) in an effort to attract more eligible borrowers who can benefit from refinancing their home mortgage. The program enhancements were developed at FHFA’s direction with input from …

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NYT Infographic: Poverty in the Suburbs – “Nearly 60 percent of the Cleveland metro area’s poor population lives in the suburbs, compared with 46 percent a decade earlier. Eight other metro areas shifted to majority suburban poor in the last decade.” NYT: “The poor population in America’s suburbs — long a symbol of a stable …

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Front-of-Package Nutrition Rating Systems and Symbols: Promoting Healthier Choices, October 20, 2011, Consensus Report “A variety of nutrition rating systems and symbols are now on the front of food packages—meant to make it easier for consumers to make healthful choices. However, the number and variety of nutrition rating systems in grocery stores today often lead …

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The Federal Reserve System and Individual Financial Planning, Governor Elizabeth A. Duke At the 2011 Virginia Beach Financial Planning Day, Virginia Beach, Virginia, October 22, 2011 Beginning in 2008, in the face of rising unemployment and falling home values, households reduced spending and increased saving. Although many households have suffered tremendous financial hardship, in the …

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Survey of Current Business, October 2011: “In October, we traditionally present recent statistics on services traded across borders and services delivered via affiliates of multinational companies, thus taking a broad view of services provided to and by the United States in international markets. Cross-border trade statistics are presented for 2010, while services provided through affiliates …

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Workplace Injury and Illness Summary 2010 “Nearly 3.1 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses we reported among private industry employers in 2010, resulting in an incidence rate of 3.5 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers– down from 3.6 cases in 2009, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The total recordable cases (TRC) injury …

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Regional and State Employment and Unemployment Summary, September 2011: Regional and state unemployment rates were generally little changed in September. Twenty-five states recorded unemployment rate decreases, 14 states posted rate increases, and 11 states and the District of Columbia had no rate change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Thirty-eight states registered unemployment …

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Wage Statistics for 2010: “The national average wage index (AWI) is based on compensation (wages, tips, and the like) subject to Federal income taxes, as reported by employers on Forms W-2. Beginning with the AWI for 1991, compensation includes contributions to deferred compensation plans, but excludes certain distributions from plans where the distributions are included …

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News release: “NOAA scientists have found that pressure from increasing coastal populations, ship and boat groundings, marine debris, poaching, and climate change are critically threatening the health of the Florida Keys ecosystem. Many historically abundant marine resources such as green sea turtles and coral habitat continue to be at risk with low rates of recovery. …

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