A recovery in retail sales, along with stronger port traffic and home building, are fueling a gradual upturn in the Hampton Roads economy, a forecasting team at Old Dominion University said Tuesday.

However, the increased activity has yet to spur a rebound in jobs in the region, ODU's Economic Forecasting Project noted in its report. The team forecast civilian non-farm employment to average 739,285 during the current quarter, down 1.1 percent from the April-through-June number last year.

Expert: They’re hopeful ‘housing recovery is finally beginning to take root’

The National Association of Home Builders said Tuesday its housing market index rose two points in February, a sign that low interest rates and federal tax credits are boosting demand for new homes.

Influenza (flu) epidemics affect 20% of the U.S. population annually, and researchers estimate direct medical costs to the U.S. are $10.4 billion with a further $16.3 billion in lost earnings due to illness (2005 estimate). This flu season portends to be particularly challenging because the H1N1 version of the virus (the swine flu) has been active throughout the summer, and could become widespread as the flu season comes to the northern hemisphere. The regional economic downturn complicates the flu season further, as families and business have a smaller cushion to deal with the impact from lost productivity/earnings. The CDC stresses the development of continuity and crisis plans for all businesses.

It is difficult to measure the progress of ARRA spending on the local level, as much of the required reporting will not take place until the end of October. The chart below has the funding that localities and regional agencies are estimated to receive directly from the recovery act.