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Hiring surges in February as U.S. gains 242,000 jobs
10:28 a.m. Today - By Jeffry Bartash
The U.S. added 242,000 new jobs in February, recovering from a hiccup in January that raised questions about whether the pace of hiring was tapering off.
Job gains strong but wages ‘intractable’ problem, economists say
9:18 a.m. Today - By Robert Schroeder
Analysts said February’s job gains were strong but that wages remain an intractable problem for the U.S. economy.
U.S. exports fall to lowest level since mid-2011
8:39 a.m. Today - By Jeffry Bartash
U.S. exports fell in January for the fourth month in a row and hit the lowest level since mid-2011, acting as a weight on the economy that’s unlikely to fade soon.
Odds of U.S. recession still seen as low
3:38 p.m. March 3, 2016 - By Jeffry Bartash
Wall Street honchos think the risk of U.S. recession has risen, but they say the odds of a downturn in 2016 are still remote.
Factory orders rebound, but miss expectations
10:35 a.m. March 3, 2016 - By Greg Robb
Factory orders rose 1.6% in January, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.
Mortgage rates creep higher, still well under 4%
10:06 a.m. March 3, 2016 - By Steve Goldstein
Mortgage rates crept higher last week but still remain below the levels that most American homeowners pay.
US service sector activity eases slightly, ISM says
10:05 a.m. March 3, 2016 - By Andrea Riquier
ISM nonmanufacturing index falls 0.1 point to 53.4%, beating expectations.
Jobless claims climb 6,000 to 278,000
8:53 a.m. March 3, 2016 - By Jeffry Bartash
The number of Americans who applied for unemployment benefits rose by 6,000 to 278,000 in the last week of February, but the overall pace of layoffs still hovered near postrecession lows.
U.S. productivity revised to show smaller 2.2% drop in fourth quarter
8:42 a.m. March 3, 2016 - By Jeffry Bartash
The productivity of U.S. businesses fell at a 2.2% annual pace in the fourth quarter, a smaller decline than previously estimated.
Home flipping up as profits hit a 10-year high, RealtyTrac says
6:50 a.m. March 3, 2016 - By Andrea Riquier
The share of homes flipped rose for the first time after four straight yearly declines while profits rose.
Fed’s Beige Book paints drab picture of activity through late February
2:46 p.m. March 2, 2016 - By Greg Robb
The Federal Reserve’s Beige Book painted a downbeat picture of economic activity through late-February.
Private-sector job gains accelerate in February, ADP says
8:33 a.m. March 2, 2016 - By Greg Robb
Private employment increased by 214,000 in February, according to the ADP National Employment Report, above consensus expectations.
Construction spending up 1.5% in January on road, highway projects
11:48 a.m. March 1, 2016 - By Andrea Riquier
Outlays on construction were up 1.5% in January, led mostly by non-residential spending.
Manufacturing still languishing, ISM survey finds
10:53 a.m. March 1, 2016 - By Jeffry Bartash
U.S. manufacturers contracted in February for the fifth straight month, though at a slower pace. The Institute for Supply Management said its manufacturing index rose to 49.5% last month from 48.2% in January.
Home-price growth continues as oil patch remains resilient, CoreLogic says
9:37 a.m. March 1, 2016 - By Andrea Riquier
Home prices charted strong gains in January, data firm CoreLogic said, with the weakest performance in the Deep South.
Chicago PMI signals contraction of factory activity in February
10:43 a.m. Feb. 29, 2016 - By Greg Robb
The Chicago Business Barometer fell 8 points to 47.6 in February, led by large declines in production and new orders, signaling a contraction in activity.
Pending home sales fall 2.5% in January
10:00 a.m. Feb. 29, 2016 - By Andrea Riquier
An index of home contract signings declined as prices rose, inventory fell, and snow put a damper on activity.
U.S. inflation rate in past 12 months nearly doubles to 1.3% in January
10:35 a.m. Feb. 26, 2016 - By Jeffry Bartash
The longer-term rate of inflation doubled in January to 1.3%, closing in on the Federal Reserve’s 2% target and potentially raising the odds of another interest-rate increase soon.
Consumer sentiment was at three-month low in February
10:20 a.m. Feb. 26, 2016 - By Steve Goldstein
U.S. consumer sentiment was at a three-month low in February, the final reading of the gauge released Friday showed.
The worst kind of upward GDP revision — built on more inventories, less imports
10:14 a.m. Feb. 26, 2016 - By Jeffry Bartash
The annual pace of economic growth in the U.S. was marked up in the fourth quarter to 1% from 0.7%, mostly because of a bigger stockpiling of inventories.
U.S. trade gap in goods widens to 7-month high
8:50 a.m. Feb. 26, 2016 - By Steve Goldstein
The U.S. trade deficit for goods widened in January to the largest level since June, as Americans firms struggled to export amid a rising dollar and a languid global economy.
Mortgage rates sink to near-13-month low
10:05 a.m. Feb. 25, 2016 - By Andrea Riquier
Rates for home loans fell after stabilizing earlier in February, helping make home purchases more affordable.
Durable goods orders surge 4.9%
9:45 a.m. Feb. 25, 2016 - By Jeffry Bartash
U.S. orders for long-lasting or durable goods jumped 4.9% in January to mark the biggest gain in 10 months, but underlying business investment remained soft.
Jobless claims climb 10,000 to 272,000
8:39 a.m. Feb. 25, 2016 - By Jeffry Bartash
The number of Americans who applied for unemployment benefits last week rose by 10,000 to 272,000, but remained nearly a postrecession low.
Signs of life, including first-timers, in grim new-home sales report
11:59 a.m. Feb. 24, 2016 - By Andrea Riquier
New home sales were unexpectedly soft in January but there’s reason for optimism.
Services gauge drops below 50 level to 28-month low
10:18 a.m. Feb. 24, 2016 - By Steve Goldstein
A reading of services activity in the U.S. in February indicated contraction, a worrying sign that the blues that have hurt manufacturing may have spread to more domestically-oriented industries.
City-by-city look at U.S. house prices in December
9:23 a.m. Feb. 23, 2016 - By Steve Goldstein
U.S. home prices were steady in December, but home values in 2015 ran well ahead of inflation on jobs growth and low inventories, according to the Case-Shiller 20-city composite released Tuesday. Here’s a city-by-city look.
Why the existing-home sales figures are even better than they look
4:31 p.m. Feb. 23, 2016 - By Andrea Riquier
Home resales are at the second-strongest pace of the recovery, even as tight supply pushes prices higher.
Consumer confidence falls to seven-month low
11:18 a.m. Feb. 23, 2016 - By Jeffry Bartash
Consumers confidence​fell in February to the lowest level in seven months, as American became a bit more pessimistic about business conditions. Turmoil in stock markets probably also increased anxiety.
Flash U.S. manufacturing PMI flashes warning signs
10:38 a.m. Feb. 22, 2016 - By Greg Robb
The flash reading of the Markit manufacturing purchasing managers index unexpectedly fell in February to 51.0 from 52.4 in January.
Inflation flat in January, but some price pressure on consumers is building
9:17 a.m. Feb. 19, 2016 - By Jeffry Bartash
Cheaper gasoline and moderating grocery prices kept inflation in check in January, but expenses for medical care and housing are rising
Leading economic indicators fall for second month in a row
10:26 a.m. Feb. 18, 2016 - By Jeffry Bartash
A measure of leading economic indicators declined in January to mark the second straight decline, mainly because of falling stock prices and somewhat higher jobless claims last month.
Philly Fed index shows manufacturing contracts for sixth straight month
9:36 a.m. Feb. 18, 2016 - By Greg Robb
The Philadelphia Fed index improved a bit but stayed in negative territory for the sixth straight month in February.
Jobless claims fall to 262,000, hit 3-month low
8:54 a.m. Feb. 18, 2016 - By Jeffry Bartash
There’s no sign of rising layoffs: New jobless claims fell by 7,000 to 262,000 in mid-February to mark a three-month low.
Producer-price gains suggest inflation declines may be over
1:02 p.m. Feb. 17, 2016 - By Andrea Riquier
Core producer prices rose in January, but remain below the Federal Reserve’s inflation target.
Gains in utilities and manufacturing lift industrial output in January
10:31 a.m. Feb. 17, 2016 - By Greg Robb
Industrial production rose 0.9% in January, the first increase since July, on gains in utilities and manufacturing.
Housing starts dip 3.8% in January
8:57 a.m. Feb. 17, 2016 - By Andrea Riquier
Builders broke ground on fewer homes in January, but that may pick up in future months
Home-builder sentiment slips in February, NAHB says
10:00 a.m. Feb. 16, 2016 - By Andrea Riquier
Sentiment among home builders dipped in February, the National Association of Home Builders said Tuesday.
Empire State stays in deep negative territory in February
8:38 a.m. Feb. 16, 2016 - By Greg Robb
The Empire State index, a reading of New York-area manufacturing, remained in recession-like negative territory in February.
Sentiment weakens even as consumers expect lowest inflation on record
1:26 p.m. Feb. 12, 2016 - By Andrea Riquier
Americans have a less favorable view of economic conditions ahead.
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