Jobless Claims Fall to Lowest Level in Nearly 5½ Years
The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits dropped to its lowest level in nearly 5½ years last week, despite federal budget cuts.
economic recovery
Obama Renews Focus on Jobs, Economy with Texas Trip
President Barack Obama travels to Texas to put his focus back on job creation and economic growth after intensive attention to gun control legislation and immigration reform.
U.S. Home Prices Surge 10.5% in March
A survey shows U.S. home prices rose 10.5 percent in March compared with a year ago, the biggest gain since March 2006.
U.S. Factory Orders Fell Sharply in March
Orders to U.S. factories fell in March by the largest amount in seven months but a key category that signals business investment plans managed a small increase.
Service-Sector Job Growth in April Slowest in 9 Months
The pace of growth in the vast U.S. services sector slowed in April to its weakest pace in nine months, an industry report shows.
Hiring Up, Jobless Rate Falls To 7.5%
U.S. employers added 165,000 jobs in April, and hiring was much stronger in the previous two months than first thought.
U.S. Workers More Productive in 1Q -- But Just Barely
U.S. worker productivity barely grew from January through March after shrinking in the final three months of 2012.
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.
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.
Consumer Confidence Jumps on Better Outlook for Hiring, Pay
U.S. consumer confidence rebounded in April as Americans felt better about the outlook for the economy and their income prospects, the Conference Board says.
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.
Federal Reserve Seen Keeping Interest Rates Near Zero
Scant inflation and still-modest U.S. economic growth will likely lead the Federal Reserve this week to maintain its drive to keep borrowing costs at record lows indefinitely.
U.S. Consumer Spending Rises Unexpectedly in March
U.S. consumer spending unexpectedly rose in March as benign inflation supported household's spending power, a hopeful sign for the weakened economic recovery.