Personal incomes rose in October, but orders to factories fell the most in two years. Jobless claims also declined, as did consumer spending.

Personal incomes rose in October, but orders to factories fell the most in two years. Jobless claims also declined, as did consumer spending.

Personal incomes rose in October, but orders to factories fell the most in two years. Jobless claims also declined.

Productivity grew at an annual pace of 1.1 percent, down from a 3.6 percent rate in the second quarter, as a huge pullback by consumers threw the economy into reverse.

Productivity grew at an annual pace of 1.1 percent, down from a 3.6 percent rate in the second quarter, as a huge pullback by consumers threw the economy into reverse.

Inventories for wholesale merchants rose 0.8 percent in August, more than analysts expected, while sales suffered their largest drop since January 2007, the government said.

New applications for unemployment benefits dropped last week from a seven-year high, though claims remain at elevated levels amid the struggling economy.

New applications for unemployment benefits dropped last week from a seven-year high, though claims remain at elevated levels amid the struggling economy.

It has been almost three decades since the term “misery index” gained political currency, as President Jimmy Carter confronted the twin problems of rising inflation and unemployment.

A separate report said that prices of imports other than petroleum dipped slightly last month, an encouraging sign that inflation may have slowed in August.