April Factory Activity Weakest in 6 Months as Orders Fall
Manufacturing growth pulled back to its slowest pace in six months in April as new orders and employment cooled, the latest signal the economy has hit a soft spot.
EconomicRecovery
Employers Add Far Fewer Jobs in April than Forecast
Private employers added 119,000 jobs in April, well below economists' expectations in the latest piece of data to suggest the economy is encountering a soft patch.
No Surprises Expected as Fed Ends 2-Day Meeting
The Federal Reserve is widely expected Wednesday to stick with its aggressive efforts to strengthen a still-subpar economy.
Owners of Hungry Pets Can Now Turn to Pet Food Stamps
There is no federal program to help the needy feed their cats and dogs, but one enterprising entrepreneur has stepped in to fill the void by creating food stamps for pets.
New Jobless Claims Fall Sharply to Four-Year Low
The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits last fell sharply to the lowest level in four years, a hopeful sign for the struggling labor market, government data showed on Thursday.
U.S. Businesses Added 176,000 Jobs in June, ADP Reports
Payroll provider ADP reports that U.S. businesses increased hiring to 176,000 jobs last month, suggesting the job market could be recovering after three sluggish months.
If Americans 'Vote Their Wallets,' What'll That Mean in November?
Voters are expected to "vote their pocketbooks" -- incumbents tend to win in good economies, and challengers in bad ones. If that holds true, 2012 could be a bad year for President Obama. But -- no surprise -- the realities are a bit more complicated.
Unemployment Aid Applications Rise to 386,000
More Americans sought unemployment aid last week, suggesting hiring remains sluggish. The Labor Department said Thursday that weekly unemployment benefit applications rose 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 386,000.
Why These 11 State Economies Are America's Fastest Growing
In 2011, the U.S. economy grew by 1.5% -- slow, but enough to show the country is moving in the right direction. Driving that growth were a handful of sectors, and these 11 states.
Initial Jobless Claims Fall for First Time Since April
The number of Americans lining up for new jobless benefits fell last week by 12,000, dropping for the first time since April and hinting that last month's slowdown in hiring may have been temporary.
Painless Investing: Why a New Generation Will Dive Into Stocks
Many Americans have been spooked out of the stock market by Great Recession and its aftermath. But despite their apprehensions, the children of the baby boomers are actually eager to jump into stocks -- primarily because they weren't burned personally by the crash.
Economists More Upbeat About Job Growth, Housing
A new survey shows economists are growing slightly more optimistic about recovery in the job and housing markets but expect other pillars of the economy to remain weak.
U.S. Stock Futures Push Higher on Improving Jobs Numbers
U.S. stock futures are higher with the government reporting that weekly jobless claims edged downward last week, suggesting that employers may accelerate hiring this month.
FICO Finds More Consumers Approaching Perfect Scores
The number of consumers in the top credit score range has reached its highest level since fall 2008, a report by FICO Labs shows, which could indicate more Americans are working to better their personal finances.
U.S. Hiring Slows Sharply With Just 115,000 Jobs Added in April
U.S. employers pulled back on hiring in April for the second straight month, evidence of an economy still growing only sluggishly. The unemployment rate dipped, but only because more people gave up looking for work.