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.
Imports
The Resurgent Dollar Could Hurt S&P 500 Earnings
The dollar's rising again, which helps Americans by making imports cheaper and curbing inflation, but it can also hurt U.S. companies that are increasingly reliant on exports.
Obama Expected to Call for Major EU Trade Talks in State of the Union
President Obama is expected to call for comprehensive trade and investment talks with the EU in his State of the Union speech tonight. An agreement that phases out tariffs, harmonizes product standards and reduces barriers to trade would have huge implications, far beyond economics.
How 'Everyday Low Prices' Are Costing Americans Their Jobs
As consumers, we welcome Walmart's low prices. But they're doing the U.S. more harm than good. A new research report has found that low prices have actually caused unemployment to rise, and dealt a massive blow to the manufacturing sector.
Cheaper Oil Pushes U.S. Trade Deficit to 18 Month Low
The U.S. trade deficit fell to its lowest level in 18 months in June, pushed down by a steep drop in oil imports and a small rise in exports. The trade gap narrowed to $42.9 billion in June, down from $48 billion in May, the Commerce Department said Thursday.
Beyond Olympic Uniforms: Where the Products We Love Are Made
Forget all the hullabaloo over Team USA's much maligned, Chinese-made Olympic uniforms; we're a nation of importers. But importing from where? Check out DailyFinance's unscientific survey of some of America's more popular products and where they're actually made.
A Farewell to Marvin Traub: The Man Who Changed How You Shop
You might never have heard of Marvin Traub, but the former CEO of Bloomingdale's, who died this week at 87, forever changed retailing. Here are five ways his style and panache helped create the modern shopping experience.
U.S. Trade Deficit Falls Thanks to More Exports, Cheaper Oil
The U.S. trade deficit fell 3.8% to $48.7 billion in May, helped by cheaper oil and an increase in American exports to Europe and China. But economists cautioned that decline wasn't enough to alter weak growth forecasts for the quarter.
China's Trade Growth Slips Amid Global Economic Slump
China's trade growth plunged in June, hurt by weak U.S. and European demand and a Chinese slowdown, with a potential impact on economies as far-flung as Africa and Australia.
U.S. Trade Deficit Narrows to $50.1 Billion in April
The U.S. trade deficit shrunk in April, but only because a big drop in imports offset the first decline in U.S. exports in five months. Exports, which had hit a record the previous month, fell 0.8%, but imports, which also set a record in March, dropped an even faster 1.7%.
Your Dry Cleaning Bill's About to Get Worse
If your weekly dry cleaning bill already has you cringing, brace yourself for more pain. As soon as your next pickup, prices may be higher -- and it's all because of wire hangers.
Happy Chinese New Year! Your Item Is Back-Ordered
Chinese New Year kicked off on Monday, and the celebration of the new lunar cycle will effect you than you might think. When the country that manufactures so much of what we buy goes on vacation for two weeks, U.S. retail can hardly act like it's business as usual.
Remember to Thank Canada for Your Thanksgiving Dinner
When it comes to eating locally, it's hard to beat the original Thanksgiving dinner. Today's holiday diners have far more options than the Pilgrims, and the string beans, sweet potatoes, cranberries and such on your table may come from abroad -- but they probably didn't have to come too far.
Is GM's Rebound the Real Deal?
Detroit's revival is nearly complete: Chrysler recently made its first profit in five years, Ford has posted its best results since 1998, and GM is poised to retake the crown as the world's biggest automaker. But to hold onto that position, GM will have to adjust to a rapidly shifting auto market.
Radiation Risk to U.S. Very Low, Top Expert Explains
As the crisis at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant continues, some worry that radiation from the damaged reactors will reach U.S. shores. Dr. Edward Maher, president of the Health Physics Society, and an environmental science expert at Harvard, explains why we should breathe easy.