economy
The U.S. economy grew at a 2.8 percent annual rate in the final three months of last year, the fastest growth in 2011. Americans spent more on cars and trucks, and companies restocked their shelves at the strongest pace in nearly two years. But growth in the October-December quarter -- and all of last year -- was held back by the biggest annual government spending cuts in four decades.
The final weeks of 2011 were among the economy's strongest as Americans shopped and traveled more, ending the year with a shot of optimism for 2012. That's the bright picture the Federal Reserve sketched in a survey released Wednesday.
Health spending stabilized as a share of the nation's economy in 2010 after two back-to-back years of historically low growth, the government reported Monday. Experts debated whether it's a fleeting consequence of the sluggish economy, or a real sign that cost controls by private employers and government at all levels are starting to work.
A burst of hiring in December pushed the unemployment rate to its lowest level in nearly three years, giving the economy a boost at the end of 2011. The Labor Department said Friday that employers added a net 200,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate fell to 8.5 percent, the lowest since February 2009. The rate has dropped for four straight months.
7 Financial New Year's Resolutions You Should Keep
12:40PM 12/29/2011
Every January, we plan to make changes, and we often don't succeed. Let's make this New Year's different: Here are seven fairly simple resolutions recommended by the financial experts for getting you on a firmer fiscal footing in 2012.
The Economy Ahead: What to Expect in 2012
12:00PM 12/28/2011
With 2011 fast coming to a close, it's time to think about what's next -- if you dare. We've got the good news, the bad news, the key points to watch and some good advice on getting through 2012 with your finances intact.
The year-end housing news is sobering: U.S. homes are expected to lose more than $681 billion in value in 2011. But there's an upside: That's 35% less than the $1.1 trillion lost in 2010, according to research from Zillow.
The Family Plan: Managing Life in a Multigenerational Household
12:00PM 12/22/2011
Multigenerational households in this country are growing fast. At the end of 2009, 51.4 million Americans lived in a home with three or more generations under one roof, up nearly 5 million from 2007. So what's driving this trend, and how can you move in relatives without drowning in drama?
The economy is ending 2011 on a roll. The job market is healthier. Americans are spending lustily on holiday gifts. A long-awaited turnaround for the depressed housing industry may be under way. Gas is cheaper. Factories are busier. Stocks are higher.
More People Like Their Banks Than the Government
10:25AM 12/21/2011
Despite the din from the Occupy Wall Street crowd, not everybody dislikes financial institutions -- at least, not their own. A new poll shows a much higher approval rating for our banks than we give to the folks in Washington.
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| Symbol | Last | Change / % | Volume |
|---|
Most Actives
| 8.07 | -0.11 -1.34% | 254.23M | |
| 2.19 | +0.25 +12.89% | 122.18M | |
| 18.88 | -0.26 -1.33% | 109.55M | |
| 12.44 | -0.25 -1.97% | 52.49M |
% Gainers
| 31.68 | +7.78 +32.55% | 18.42M | |
| 89.96 | +13.57 +17.76% | 13.27M | |
| 2.19 | +0.25 +12.89% | 122.18M | |
| 10.50 | +1.10 +11.70% | 3.07M |
% Losers
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