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The technology spending freeze of late 2009 is showing signs of thawing among small and medium businesses (SMBs), according to a new survey by Spiceworks™, Inc. The vast majority is seeing overall IT budgets and spending rise in the first half of 2010.

Real average hourly earnings for all employees fell 0.2 percent from February to March, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. This decrease stems from a 0.1 percent decrease in average hourly earnings and a 0.1 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U).

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for Spain declined 0.5 percent and The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index® (CEI) decreased 0.1 percent in February.

Prices in the $2.8 trillion global petrochemicals business continued to forge ahead in March hitting new six-month highs and continuing to build on the dramatic gains seen in January when the Platts Global Petrochemical Index (PGPI) rose 10.4%. The index, a basket of the most widely-used petrochemicals prices expressed in dollars per metric ton ($/mt), advanced 0.7% in February and rose again in March to close the month at $1,233/mt, compared to $1,192/mt at the end of February, Platts reports.

Despite an improved employment picture, consumers faced increased economic difficulties in their lives, according to the Consumer Reports index for April. The Consumer Reports Employment Index stands at 50.4 for April, reflective of net job creation in the prior 30 days. This was the first movement of the Employment Index into positive territory since May '09. In the past 30 days, more Americans have started a new job (5%) versus losing their job (4.3%). The 5% reporting starting a new job is up from 3.5% the prior month, but behind the recent high point in September 2009 (6.2%).

Investors are demonstrating growing belief in a robust global recovery and have painted a picture of an ideal investment environment, according to the BofA Merrill Lynch Survey of Fund Managers for April.

Despite some indicators that an economic recovery is underway, most Americans are still trying to cut expenses, according to a recent survey conducted for M&T Bank. Reducing debt and increasing savings were the two other most reported financial behaviors among respondents.

The European Central Bank (ECB) is publishing its fourth Report on Financial Integration in Europe, which notes the return towards integration in the European financial markets. Following the financial crisis, signs of retrenchment had become evident in several market segments. But as market conditions gradually returned to normal during 2009 and especially 2010, the markets that suffered most from the crisis also began to move back to pre-crisis integration levels. However, since the functionality of European financial markets has not yet been fully restored, vigilance and the ECB’s active presence in the market are still essential.

The Deloitte Consumer Spending Index moved upward in March, following two consecutive months of decline. The Index attempts to track consumer cash flow as an indicator of future consumer spending.

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace is currently 4.88 percent, down twenty basis points from 5.08 percent compared to this same time last week. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose last week, spiking Sunday at 5.05 percent before falling to 4.88 percent Monday.