CNN Money details: Economic growth was stronger than originally thought at the end of 2011 as consumers increased their spending and businesses stocked up their inventories. Gross domestic product, the broadest measure of the nation's economy, grew at a 3% annual rate in the fourth quarter of 2011, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. The government had initially said the economy grew at a 2.8% rate.

Bloomberg details: Orders for U.S. durable goods fell in January by the most in three years, led by a slowdown in demand for commercial aircraft and business equipment. Bookings for goods meant to last at least three years slumped 4 percent, more than forecast, after a revised 3.2 percent gain the prior month, data from the Commerce Department showed today in Washington.

SF Gate details: Overall consumer prices increased 3.4 percent in the 12 months ended November, the smallest year-over-year increase since April. The core CPI climbed 2.2 percent from November 2010, the most since October 2008. The Fed's preferred price gauge, the Commerce Department's measure that excludes food and fuel and is tied to consumer spending, rose 0.1 percent in October after no change the prior month.

Bloomberg details: The import-price index climbed 0.7 percent, the first increase in four months and followed a 0.5 percent drop in October, Labor Department figures showed today in Washington. Economists projected the gauge would increase 1 percent, according to the median forecast in a Bloomberg News survey.