Business Inventories Rise in April, But Sales Weaken
Business inventories rose in April, but goods took longer to sell, meaning businesses could slow the pace of stock accumulation to prevent an unwanted surplus of merchandise.
GDP
Retail Sales Rise in May as Import, Export Prices Soften
U.S. retail sales rose more than expected in May as households stepped up purchases of automobiles and bought other goods, as prices for imports and exports slipped.
European Unemployment Drags on World Markets
World stock markets slumped Friday after a report showed unemployment hitting an all-time high across the 17 European Union countries that use the euro.
U.S. First-Quarter GDP Revised Slightly Lower
A drop in government spending dragged more on the U.S. economy than initially thought in the first quarter, a sign of increasing pain from Washington's austerity drive.
Stocks: Investors Gird for Choppy Session Thursday
U.S. stocks could be choppy Thursday as indexes across Asia tumbled into the red and European markets saw big swings.
Consumer Spending Forecast to Boost U.S. Economy
Consumer spending is likely to pick up this year, while government spending declines at a faster rate, according to a survey of business economists.
Business Inventories Flat in March; Sales Down Sharply
U.S. business inventories were unchanged in March for a second straight month, while business sales fell the most since June.
9 Numbers That'll Tell You How the Economy's Really Doing
We've whittled the vast universe of economic data down to these nine key numbers that will give you a quick handle on the health of the economy.
Why Rich Consumers Will Dominate Spending in 2013
The consumer economy may look weak. But the affluent and wealthy consumers are ramping up their spending -- and that could help drive the broader economy this year.
Economic Growth Picks Up in 1Q But Not as Much as Hoped
U.S. economic growth accelerated from January through March, buoyed by the strongest consumer spending in more than two years.
Drop in Gas Prices A Boon for Drivers and the Economy
A sharp decline in the price of oil this month is making gasoline cheaper at a time of year when it typically gets more expensive.
Economists' Excel Error Undermines Influential Paper
Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff are economics luminaries, with chairs at Harvard and stints at the IMF. But is their most famous argument the result of an Excel mistake?
WTO Warns of Growing Threat of Protectionism
The World Trade Organization slashed its forecast for trade global growth in 2013 on Wednesday, saying it feared protectionism was on the increase.
U.S. Trade Gap Narrows in February on Stronger Oil, Auto Exports
The U.S. trade deficit unexpectedly narrowed in February as exports climbed to near an all-time high and the volume of imported crude oil fell to the lowest level in 17 years.
Why You May Be Feeling Left Behind in the Economic Recovery
Many of the U.S. economy's vital signs have recovered from the damage done by the Great Recession, but some measures have a way yet to go.
U.S. GDP Grew at 0.1% Rate in Fourth Quarter
The U.S. economy grew at a 0.1 percent annual rate from October through December, the weakest performance in nearly two years. But economists believe a steady housing rebound in housing and solid business and consumer spending is pushing growth higher in the current quarter.
U.S. GDP Shrinks for First Time Since End of Great Recession
The U.S. economy shrank from October through December for the first time since the recession ended, hurt by the biggest cut in defense spending in 40 years, fewer exports and sluggish growth in company stockpiles.
U.S. Economy Grew at 3.1 Percent in Summer
The U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of 3.1 percent over the summer as exports increased, consumers spent more and state and local governments added to growth for the first time in three years. But the economy is likely slowing in the current quarter.
Hurricane Sandy to Cost Businesses Billions
Economists say it will take a while to fully estimate the economic impact of the storm. But they believe the impact will be enough to lower the nation's gross domestic product, the broadest reading of the nation's economic activity, in the fourth quarter.
U.S. Economic Growth Improves to 2% Rate in Q3
The U.S. economy grew at a slightly faster 2 percent annual rate from July through September, buoyed by more spending by consumers and the federal government.
U.S. Economy Grew at Better-Than-Expected 1.7% Rate in Second Quarter
The U.S. economy grew at a 1.7 percent annual rate in the April-June quarter, boosted by slightly stronger consumer spending and greater imports. That was slightly better than the Commerce Department's initial estimate of 1.5 percent.
Amazon's World Takeover -- By the Numbers
Amazon plays by its own rules -- and the online retail giant usually wins. Check out this infographic by blogger FrugalDad that gives you a peek at who you're paying when you opt for the Free SuperSaver Shipping.
Obesity Drags on the Economy
Obese people do not just risk their own health; their health problems cripple the economy. GDP would be given a boost if the number of fat people fell sharply. The Obama administration has not made an attack on obesity part of its stimulus program. Maybe it should.
How U.S. Debt Stacks Up Against Other Nations
It's true that the U.S. has racked up the largest debt of any developed country. But when you consider the debt in relation to the country's gross domestic product, it's only No. 7 on the list, according to Fortune. Here's what you need to know to make sense of all the numbers.
As Foreclosures Rise, Consumer Spending Will Fall
Foreclosure activity picked up by 4% in June, and economic problems which include high unemployment and falling homes prices will drive it relentlessly higher. That's bad news for homeowners, but the ripple effect from foreclosures goes beyond their immediate problems, and it will get much worse.
Reading the Tea Leaves of the Shanghai Composite
The Shanghai Composite is as close to a proxy for public firms in China as investors can get, and indexes are believed to reflect where markets think a nation's economy is headed. So what does it mean that, despite China's white-hot growth, the Shanghai Composite has been seriously lagging the S&P 500?
The Bulls Are Optimistic Despite Global Turmoil
Despite turbulent times, U.S. markets are rising again. But is this a temporary bump, or the return of a bull market? The sharp-eyed analysts of Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs say its the latter, and their money is on strong growth ahead.
Week in Preview: Discover, Oracle and Tiffany Earnings
Oracle, Discover and Tiffany are all expected to report year-over-year growth for their most recent quarters this week. Meanwhile, many will be looking for an updated snapshot of the housing market, with three sets of real-estate data coming out.