Wis. Foreclosure Filings Declining So Far in 2010

Economist: Wis. Unemployment to Edge Higher

Study: Americans More Conservative With Money

Americans appear to believe the era of fast financial growth is over and have become more conservative about managing their money, a study by Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. shows. Read more in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Financial System Entering ‘Vulnerable’ Period

Leading economic indicators “are telling a discomforting story,” writes columnist Tom Saler in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “On balance, these indicators suggest that the world financial system is entering a bumpy and vulnerable period,” he writes.

Economist: ‘Slow Recovery Out of Large Hole’

Even as the recession recedes, most parts of the country are still seeing a “slow recovery out of a large hole,” said David Altig, senior vice president and director of research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, at a University of Wisconsin-Madison conference. Read the Wisconsin Journal Sentinel article.

Economist: Jobs Just ‘Stimulus Sugar High’

Wisconsin added over 16,000 jobs last month – the largest one-month increase since 1996. But Wells Fargo Bank economist Brian Jacobson of Milwaukee calls it a “stimulus sugar high,” since most of those non-permanent jobs were created with federal stimulus money, WTAQ reported.

Economist: Recovery to Be Slower in Wisconsin

The foundation of the economy looks sound right now, especially after two months of job gains, said Craig Thomas, senior economist for Pittsburgh-based PNC Bank, speaking to local businesspeople in Milwaukee. The recovery in Wisconsin will come at a slower pace than the U.S. generally, he said. Read the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story.

Many Encouraging Signs Indicate Recovery

“Make no mistake, we are recovering. Most of the latest macro-economic numbers are encouraging,” according to the Small Business Times of Milwaukee in an analysis of 10 business sectors that are showing improvement.

M&I Exec Shares Investing Insights

The U.S. and global economies have emerged from the Great Recession. Although opportunities are re-emerging for investors, significant risks remain, said Sandy Lincoln, senior vice president with M&I Investment Management Corp., in the Small Business Times.

Fed: Jobless Rate Could Stay High for Years

While the economy is getting better, the jobless rate is expected to remain high – possibly for years – because of financial uncertainty among households and businesses, Federal Reserve policy-makers said when they met in a closed-door session in late January. Read the story in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.