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Real average hourly earnings for all employees was unchanged from July to August, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. This result stems from a 0.3 percent increase in average hourly earnings, which was offset by a 0.3 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U).

The storm has ebbed, but the U.S. economic forecast remains overcast, according to a report released today by TD Economics.

Austria should put in place a comprehensive strategy for managing regulations in order to boost competition and entrepreneurship, according to a new OECD report.

Household-products (HHP) companies, especially small and medium-sized manufacturers, may face an inhospitable future as about 70% of consumers say they now shop for home cleaning products, kitchenware and paper products based on price alone, while approximately 50% say they will spend less on these types of products in the coming year. That’s according to a study released by AlixPartners LLP, the global business-advisory firm.

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3 percent in August on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. (Before seasonal adjustment, the all items index increased 0.1 percent for the month.) Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 1.1 percent before seasonal adjustment.

In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production fell by 3.1% in the euro area (EA16) and by 2.5% in the EU27 in July 2010, compared with the previous month. In June production increased by 1.8% and 2.6% respectively.

The first estimate for the euro area (EA16) trade balance with the rest of the world in July 2010 gave a 6.7 bn euro surplus, compared with +11.9 bn in July 2009. The June 2010 balance was +2.2 bn, compared with +5.2 bn in June 2009. In July 2010 compared with June 2010, seasonally adjusted exports fell by 0.6% and imports by 1.5%.

The Producer Price Index for Finished Goods increased 0.4 percent in August, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. This rise followed a 0.2-percent advance in July and a 0.5-percent decline in June. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods moved up 0.3 percent in August, and the crude goods index climbed 2.3 percent. On an unadjusted basis, prices for finished goods increased 3.1 percent for the 12 months ended August 2010, their tenth straight year-over-year rise.

comScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world, released data from the comScore MobiLens service, reporting key trends in the U.S. mobile phone industry during the three month average period ending July 2010 compared to the preceding three-month average. The report ranked the leading mobile original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and smartphone operating system (OS) platforms in the U.S. according to their share current mobile subscribers age 13 and older, and reviewed the most popular activities and content accessed via the subscriber’s primary mobile phone. The July report found Samsung to be the top handset manufacturer overall with 23.1 percent market share, while RIM led among smartphone platforms with 39.9 percent market share.

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for Spain increased 0.4 percent and The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index® (CEI) remained unchanged in July.