March sales of merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, after adjustment for seasonal variations and trading day differences but not for price changes, were $507.4 billion, up 2.3% from the revised February level and up 3.9% from the March 2018 level, the Census Bureau reported. The January to February percent change was unrevised from the preliminary estimate of up 0.3%.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that the Producer Price Index for final demand rose 0.2% in April, as prices for final demand goods advanced 0.3%, and the index for final demand services edged up 0.1%. The final demand index increased 2.2% for the 12 months ended in April.

In the week ending May 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims for unemployment insurance was 228,000, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week’s unrevised level of 230,000, the Labor Department reported. The four-week moving average was 220,250, an increase of 7,750 from the previous week’s unrevised average of 212,500.

The average interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage slipped to 4.1% from 4.14% one week ago, according to Freddie Mac. The average interest rate for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage slipped to 3.57% from 3.6% one week ago.

Thursday, the Dow fell 138.97 points (0.54%) to 25,828.36, the NASDAQ lost 32.73 points (0.41%) to finish at 7,910.59, and the S&P 500 decreased 8.70 points (0.30%) to 2,870.72. The Russell 2000 closed 4.92 points (0.31%) lower at 1,570.06, and the Wilshire 5000 was down 84.95 points (0.29%) at 29,694.44.

The price of the 10-year Treasury note was up 9/32, decreasing its yield to 2.454%. The price of the 30-year Treasury bond increased 16/32, bringing its yield down to 2.867%.

ON THIS DATE: In 1773, the English Parliament passed the Tea Act, which taxed all tea in the U.S. colonies. In 1865, Confederate President Jefferson Davis was captured by Union troops near Irvinville, Georgia. In 1869, Central Pacific and Union Pacific Rail Roads meet in Promontory, Utah. A golden spike was driven in at the celebration of the first transcontinental railroad in the U.S. In 1872, Victoria Woodhull became the first woman nominated for the U.S. presidency. In 1924, J. Edgar Hoover was appointed head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In 1942, U.S. forces in the Philippines began to surrender to the Japanese. In 1943, U.S. troops invaded Attu in the Aleutian Islands to expel the Japanese. In 1960, the U.S.S. Triton completed the first circumnavigation of the globe under water. The trip started on February 16. In 1962, Marvel Comics published the first issue of “The Incredible Hulk.” In 2011, it was announced that Microsoft had closed a deal to purchase the internet phone service Skype for $8.5 billion. In 2013, in New York City, crane operators hoisted the final pieces of the spire atop One World Trade Center (formerly called the Freedom Tower).

And now it’s time for FRIDAY FILES!

In Haines, Florida, a man crashed his riding lawnmower into a police car while the police officer was away from the car. When the officer came back, the man admitted he hit the police car, but insisted there was no damage. However, the officer noticed minor damage to the rear of the vehicle. The man failed a field sobriety test and admitted he was drunk. He is facing charges of driving under the influence.

In Punta Gorda, Florida, a Charlotte County sheriff’s deputy stopped a pickup truck after it ran a stop sign, and the driver told the officer he and his female passenger were collecting frogs and snakes under an overpass. He gave the deputy permission to search bags in the truck. When the deputy found 41 3-stripe turtles in the woman’s backpack, he asked if she had anything else. That’s when she pulled a 1-foot (0.3-meter) gator from her yoga pants.

In Gillette, Wyoming, The Gillette News Record reported that a 36-year-old man went to the Sportsman’s Warehouse and bought some items with a rewards card but allegedly took sunglasses and ammunition without paying for them. Police say he returned to the store a few hours later, asked to fill out a job application and left with two more pairs of sunglasses, allegedly without paying for them.

Have a great weekend, and Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms!