Gas prices have finally begun to reflect the falling price of oil, which dipped from nearly $100 a barrel in July to less than $78 now. A gallon of regular averaged $3.408 Tuesday, down from $3.662 a month ago. That's excellent news for the nation's retailers as we approach the holiday shopping season.
The S&P 500 is precariously close its 52-week low. If it breaks below that number, how much further might it fall? Recent history suggests the possibility of a long drop.
Despite rosy financial forecasts made by economists this spring, our fears that the nation is about to sink into another depression are reaching depressing extremes. A new CNN poll reveals that nearly half of Americans believe a 1930s-scale depression is possible within the next 12 months.
A gallon of regular gas climbed to $3.503 on Sunday -- nearly 38 cents higher than a month ago and up 15 cents in a week, renewing talk of a double-dip recession.
As earlier bouts of alarmism over Europe, then a double-dip recession and then deflation fade away, a new bogeyman is taking their place: Inflation, and the damage it could do to profits and stocks. Yes, prices are rising, but the main pain will be felt most among America's poorest.
A parade of Republicans immediately lined up to attack the president's proposed budget this week, claiming the plan falls short of making a real difference. They're right. And that's good, because really deep reductions are the last thing the economy needs right now.
Among Thursday's top online stories for investors: Is employment coming back? Are we still in danger of a double-dip recession? Is the U.S. economy on fire?
Asian markets climbed higher Thursday as positive numbers out of the U.S. triggered a spike in investor confidence. In Japan the Nikkei 225 Index surged 1.8% and in Hong Kong the Hang Seng Index rose 0.9%. China's Shanghai Composite Index advanced 0.7%.
The U.S. must act to rein in its massive budget deficits or face the risk of a bond market crisis, former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan said Sunday. If deficits begin to frighten the bond market, interest rates will rise, undermining the recovery, and possibly causing a double-dip recession.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will leave oil output unchanged, a delegate at the group's current meeting told Reuters. Oil ministers apparently are not worried the weak dollar will drive up the price of crude far enough that it will crimp the global economic recovery.
August%u2019s 0.3% Leading Economic Index rise is a classic "glass half-empty/half-full" report. On the one hand, it confirms an economy that's growing too slowly -- not fast enough to lower unemployment. On the other hand, a double-dip recession is not likely, with the LEI signaling a slowly expanding economy in the quarters ahead.
The government of British Prime Minister David Cameron won a key vote of confidence from the financial community Monday when Moody's Investors Services announced that it would continue to apply a AAA rating to the country's debt, despite its severe economic dislocation.
According to a new report from UCLA, debt-slashing consumers and politically wary corporations will result in a slow recovery.
America's railways are the circulatory system of the economy, so any evidence that points to rail's recovery is a good sign for the future. Happily, a new report suggests rail freight shipments are gaining momentum.
Some of Wednesday's top online stories for investors, including why Microsoft founder Paul Allen is suing Google and Apple, seven reasons there is no double-dip recession, and four deep-value companies.