jobsecurity

Two new surveys suggest that financial optimism is on the rise. But even with the improving numbers, among average Americans, those who are upbeat about their personal finances are outnumbered by the pessimists, and we're still wary of buying stocks.

A new poll from Bankrate.com shows that only 17% of Americans feel better off financially than they were a year ago. The Financial Security Index fell from 93.9 to 92.8 in October to its second lowest level this year.

According to Bankrate.com's latest Financial Security Index, consumers' feelings about their money and job situations reached a new level of despair for 2011 in early August, with the index hitting a low of 92.3, down from 95.6 the month before.

Despite the brightening economic picture, a new survey shows about a third of employers remain skittish about hiring new employees. An even greater percentage say they plan to cut jobs in the new year. Yet some signs now show that many companies are concerned that previous cutbacks have put...

The nation's unemployment rate jumped to 9.7 percent in August, as employers cut 216,000 jobs last month, a new report from the Labor Department showed, signaling that the job market remains volatile despite recent data that show the U.S. economy is recovering. The increase in the unemployment...

When I log intoEach time I log in to check my credit card balance I'm always holding Are you like me and hold your breath every time you check your credit card balance? We already know we can't run from our finances, but is there a way to actually relax while tackling money issues? "Even in...