Detroit News — “Michigan’s Consumers Energy said today that its residential natural gas customers are writing checks to the utility that are down about 20 percent compared to a year ago because of a warmer winter and lower natural gas … read more >

This won’t be a big surprise for regular CD readers, but today’s Investor’s Business Daily features a front page story on the recent strength of American manufacturing: “If you listen to politicians these days, you’d think the country’s manufacturing industry … read more >

1. The combined store count of the four dollar store chains— a total of 21,500 (consisting of 9,600 Dollar Generals, 4,200 Dollar Trees, 6,800 Family Dollars, and 285 99¢ Cent Only Stores)—now exceeds the combined store count of the three … read more >

Total U.S. international trade (exports + imports) set a new record of $4.76 trillion in 2011 (see chart above), as both annual exports ($2.1 trillion) and imports ($2.66 trillion) reached record high levels last year, according to today’s BEA report. … read more >