jobs report

Unemployment Falls to 7.7% as Employers Get Back to Hiring

U.S. employers ramped up hiring in February, adding 236,000 jobs and pushing the unemployment rate down to 7.7 percent from 7.9 percent in January. Stronger hiring shows businesses are confident about the economy, despite higher taxes and government spending cuts.

Dow Closes at Another High, Eyes Turn to U.S. Payrolls

U.S. stocks closed modestly higher on Thursday, with the Dow ending at a record for a third straight day as jobless claims data pointed to a pick-up in the labor market's recovery a day before the closely watched payrolls report.

Dow Jones Closes Above 14,000 for First Time Since Oct. 2007

The Dow stock market index closed above 14,000 for the first time since before the financial crisis rocked the world economy. Propelled by strong auto sales and optimism about U.S. jobs, the Dow Jones industrial average crossed the line early Friday and continued flirting with the mark all day.

Jobs Report: Unemployment Rate Holds Steady At 7.8 Percent

Hiring by U.S. employers slowed slightly in December, pointing to a lackluster pace of economic growth that was unable to cut further into the country's still high unemployment rate. Payrolls outside the farming sector grew by 155,000, in line with analysts' expectations.

Initial Jobless Claims Rise, But Distorted By Holidays

More Americans sought unemployment benefits last week, though the winter holidays likely distorted the data for the second straight week. The Labor Department says weekly applications rose by 10,000 to a seasonally adjusted 372,000 in the week ended Dec. 29.

Weekly Jobless Claims Fell to 355,000

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 8,000 to a seasonally adjusted 355,000, the Labor Department said on Thursday. The report is a sign the labor market's slow recovery is gaining traction, although Hurricane Sandy's impact on the Northeast may have distorted the data.

Election Home Stretch: 5 Things to Watch for Before Nov. 6

With less than a week to go before Election Day, there are usually a few clear indicators that one candidate has momentum, some idea of how the remaining undecided voters are going to break. It was obvious in 2008. Between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney in 2012, that's just not the case.

Mitt Romney Close Behind Obama After Debate, Poll Shows

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney stayed within striking distance of President Barack Obama in a Reuters/Ipsos poll on Sunday, two-points behind the Democrat for the third straight day after winning last week's debate in Denver.

Dow Has Its Best Close in Nearly 5 Years

Investors, encouraged by a drop in the unemployment rate, sent the Dow Jones Industrial Average to highest level in almost 5 years on Friday. And though the jobs report-inspired rally did not last, the Dow still closed up 34.79 points, at 13610.15, for its best finish since December 2007.