US Economy - Page 16

Reuters - Industrial output fell in January while the number of Americans filing for jobless benefits jumped sharply last week, according to a flurry of reports that raised doubts about the economy's health.

Reuters - Home builders' confidence rose in February to its highest level since June 2006 as low mortgage rates and sales incentives helped boost demand, the National Association of Home Builders said on Thursday.

Reuters - U.S. industrial output fell in January while the number of Americans filing for jobless benefits jumped sharply last week, according to a flurry of reports that raised doubts about the economy's health.

Economy News

AP - Retail sales, hurt by a big drop in auto purchases, slowed at the start of the year and business inventories turned in the poorest showing in 17 months.

FT.com - Stocks and bonds jumped on Wednesday after Ben Bernanke laid out a fundamentally benign analysis of the US economy in his twice-annual testimony to Congress. More Info...  

AFP - Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke offered an upbeat assessment of the US economy, saying growth is solid despite a slide in housing, while warning that inflation remains a "predominant" concern.

Reuters - January retail sales were unexpectedly flat as motor vehicle, gasoline and electronics sales fell sharply in the post-holiday season after a December that was stronger than originally indicated, a Commerce Department report showed on Wednesday.

FT.com - Stocks and bonds jumped after Ben Bernanke laid out a fundamentally benign analysis of the US economy in his twice-annual testimony to Congress on Wednesday. More Info...  

FT.com - A sanguine assessment of the outlook for the US economy from Ben Bernanke, the Federal Reserve chairman, lifted equities and bonds on Wednesday. More Info...  

FT.com - Ben Bernanke on Wednesday laid out a soft-landing scenario for the US economy in his twice-annual testimony to Congress, with core inflation inching down to 2 per cent or below next year. More Info...  

Economy News AP - The U.S. trade deficit set a record for a fifth straight year, and the imbalance with China soared to an all-time high as well. More Info...  

Reuters - The U.S. trade deficit hit a fifth straight annual record in 2006, driven by a record oil import bill and a flood of goods from China, a government report showed on Tuesday.

Reuters - The U.S. trade deficit widened more than expected in December and grew 6.5 percent during all of 2006 to a record $763.6 billion, a U.S. Commerce Department report showed on Tuesday.

Economy News

AP - Free-trade policies that make it easier for U.S. companies to sell their products are important to the economy's vitality, President Bush said Monday as he projected a year of good — though somewhat slower — economic growth.

AP - Free-trade policies that make it easier for U.S. companies to sell their products are important to the economy's vitality, President Bush said Monday as he projected a year of good — though somewhat slower — economic growth.

AP - Interest rates on short-term Treasury bills rose in Monday's auction with three-month bills rising to the highest level in more than six years. More Info...  

AP - The deficit for the first four months of the current budget year is down sharply from the same period a year ago as the government continues to benefit from record levels of tax collections. More Info...  

Economy News AP - Cuba's economy should follow two strong years of economic growth with an expansion of at least 10 percent, Economy Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez said. More Info...  

AP - Cuba's economy should follow two strong years of economic growth with an expansion of at least 10 percent, Economy Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez said. More Info...  

Reuters - The U.S. economy will grow slowly during the first half of the year, but pick up strength as the months pass, a survey of top forecasters showed on Saturday. More Info...