US Economy - Page 3

Reuters - Sales of new U.S. homes rose 2.6 percent in March but fell short of the pace expected by analysts while the number of new homes for sale was little changed, according to a government report on Wednesday.

AP - It might be a hard sell to a kids daydreaming about prom, summer vacation or hanging with friends, but Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke tried anyway: Take time to learn how to handle money.

Reuters - New orders for costly and long-lasting U.S.-made goods rose a surprisingly strong 3.4 percent in March, according to a government report on Wednesday that showed businesses investing to expand operations.

Economy News

AP - The economy provided a sobering reminder Tuesday that consumers are jittery and the housing market is still a major cloud over growth.

Reuters - U.S. consumer confidence slipped in April to its lowest since last August, while sales of existing homes in March dropped more sharply than in any month since January 1989, according to reports on Tuesday that offered more evidence of a weakening economy.

FT.com - Sales of previously-owned homes in the US plunged by the most in 18 years last month, and consumer confidence also fell, in the latest warning signs for the state of the economy. More Info...  

Reuters - Consumer confidence slipped in April to its lowest since last August, reflecting worries that rising gasoline prices could ignite inflation and crimp economic growth, a report showed on Tuesday.

Reuters - The pace of sales of existing homes in the United States dropped sharply in March to a 6.12 million-unit annual rate, the National Association of Realtors said in a report Tuesday that showed more weakness than analysts had expected. More Info...  

AP - U.S. consumer confidence crumbled in April as rising gasoline prices undermined how Americans feel about the prospects for economic growth, a widely watched gauge of the economy showed on Tuesday. More Info...  

Economy News

AP - Fewer benefits, more tax money and some accounting magic have bought an extra year of life for Social Security and Medicare, trustees of the government's two largest benefit programs said Monday.

AP - Fewer benefits, more tax money and some accounting magic have bought an extra year of life for Social Security and Medicare, trustees of the government's two largest benefit programs said Monday.

AP - Interest rates on short-term Treasury bills fell in Monday's auction with six-month bills dropping to the lowest level in six months. More Info...  

Reuters - U.S. corporate profits will be smaller, demand for goods will diminish, hiring will slow and weaker growth is expected later this year, a survey released on Monday showed.

Economy News

AP - The U.S. economy should expand only slightly in coming months as it continues to lose steam, a gauge of future growth showed Thursday.

AP - The U.S. economy should expand only slightly in coming months as it continues to lose steam, a gauge of future growth showed Thursday.

Reuters - China's economy grew at a blistering 11.1 percent annual pace in the first quarter on the back of booming investment and exports, fuelling speculation that interest rates would need to rise again soon.

Reuters - Manufacturing activity in the Mid-Atlantic region stalled in April, with a factory activity index unchanged from the previous month, a survey showed on Thursday. More Info...  

AP - Applications for unemployment benefits, after hitting a two-month high, edged down slightly last week, signaling that the labor market remains generally healthy. More Info...  

AP - China's sizzling economy surged 11.1 percent in the first quarter, causing the country's Cabinet to declare Thursday it will take steps to keep the economy from overheating.

Economy News

Reuters - Mexican central bank governor Guillermo Ortiz on Wednesday urged the government and food companies to renew price caps for tortillas that have acted as a buffer against inflation.