Employers went on a hiring spree in January and drove down the unemployment rate for a fifth straight month to 8.3%, its lowest point in nearly three years.
2-2-12
Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his lair to "see" his shadow, in the process predicting six more weeks of winter.
2-1-12
House Republicans are proposing to spend more than $260 billion over the next 4 1/2 years on transportation programs, as well as substantially increase the size of trucks permitted on highways, according to a draft bill. Significant policy changes in the bill include giving states far greater power — and the U.S. Department of Transport far less say — over how federal transportation aid is spent. The bill also consolidates many existing transportation programs, and makes it easier and quicker for road construction and other transportation projects to meet the requirements of federal environmental laws.
1-31-12
According to the National Retail Federation survey, consumer spending related to the Super Bowl will hit an all-time high this year, averaging $68.87 per adult viewer.
1-30-12
Consumer spending stalled in December as Americans used a jump in incomes to restore depleted savings, indicating the biggest part of the economy will not be a driver of the expansion.
1-27-12
The nation's economy grew at a 2.8% annual rate the last three months of 2011, falling short of expectations as spending by consumers, the Consumer Department reported.
1-26-12
The Labor Department reported that 377,000 people filed for initial unemployment benefits in the week ended Jan. 21, up 21,000 from a revised reading of claims the week before.
1-26-12
The number of people seeking unemployment benefits rose last week to a seasonally adjusted 377,000, after a nearly four-year low the previous week.
1-25-12
U.S. economic confidence is at -25 in the week ending Jan. 22, the best since the week ending May 22, 2011.
1-24-12
President Barack Obama will discuss his blueprint for 2012 in the State of the Union address on January 24.
