PR Newswire (12/12/14)

Naperville, IL-based General Employment Enterprises Inc., a provider of specialty staffing services, has signed a definitive agreement with Jacksonville, FL-based Scribe Solutions Inc., a provider of medical scribe staffing services, to acquire the company. Closing of the acquisition is expected to occur during the first quarter of 2015.

Wall Street Journal (12/11/14) Kathleen Madigan

Falling gas prices, a tighter job market, and expected wage gains will likely lead to stronger economic growth in the U.S. in 2015, according to 45 economists surveyed by the Wall Street Journal. They forecast that the economy will grow an inflation-adjusted 2.9% next year, which would result in 2015 being the second-strongest year of the economic expansion. However, economists had similar forecasts for 2014 (of 2.8% growth) that failed to pan out, largely due to poor and unexpected winter weather and a poor housing market. Economists now believe 2014 will see growth of just 2.2%.

Reuters (12/12/14) Jason Lange

The producer price index declined 0.2% in November, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The decline was sharper than anticipated, driven by a decline in gasoline prices. A core measure of producer inflation that excludes energy, food, and trade services was flat, which could signal persistent slack in the economy.

New York Times (12/11/14) Neil Irwin

Total U.S. retail sales increased 0.7% in November, more than the 0.4% rise forecast by analysts. Other positive economic indicators include the dollar value of gas station sales dropping by 0.8%; falling energy prices are leaving consumers with more income to spend. It appears that the weak sales on Black Friday were misleading and that consumers are spending more evenly.