Thursday, June 14, 2012 – 11:00 a.m.

Here’s some news echoing across the transom this morning.

First-Time unemployment claims rise

In a sign of a weakening U.S. economy. First-time claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly climbed by 6,000 last week to 386,000.

More bad news the Obama administration didn’t want to hear.

Consumer prices fall last month

The wildly unreliable consumer price index (CPI) fell by 0.3% in May, due to a drop in retail gas prices.

Excluding food and energy, the index rose by 0.2%.

Romney holds positive trend in tracking polls

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is now holding a steady lead in one presidential tracking poll, and is on President Barack Obama’s tail in another.

This morning’s Rasmussen Daily Tracking Poll of “Likely Voters” has Romney leading Obama 48% to 44%, with a margin of error or +/- 3%.

The Gallup Daily Tracking Poll of “Registered Voters” has Obama leading Romney 46% to 45%, with a margin of error of +/- 3.0%.

According to Rasmussen, Romney now leads Obama for the first time in the critical swing state of Wisconsin.