Markets Unfazed By Mixed Signals

Economy

A smorgasbord of economic reports sent mixed signals about economic trends this week, but financial markets put a positive spin on the news.

In reports this week:

The Commerce Department said that Americans’ personal incomes rose just 0.1 percent in April, while consumer spending increased an identical amount.

Orders placed with U.S. factories jumped 1.2 percent in April - to a seasonally adjusted $323.9 billion - followed a revised 1.3 percent decline in March, the Commerce Department said.

The index of U.S. leading indicators - intended to project economic growth over the next half year - fell in April for the first decline in 15 months, the latest evidence business activity is subsiding.

Lower stock prices during the month and higher jobless claims stemming from auto strikes and bad weather helped account for April’s 0.1 percent decrease, according to the Conference Board, which compiles the index.

The nation’s largest stores on Thursday reported lower-thanexpected sales for May, blaming unseasonably cool weather for lowering demand for apparel and other seasonal items.