US Economy - Page 24

Reuters - New orders at U.S. factories rose 0.9 percent in November, slightly less than forecast, while inventories inched up slightly in a possible sign of economic slack, a government report showed on Thursday. More Info...  

Reuters - A gauge of U.S. online job demand fell as expected in December, in line with a seasonal slowdown in hiring, online careers and recruiting firm Monster said on Thursday. More Info...  

Economy News AP - U.S. manufacturing activity expanded in December after contracting the previous month, a trade group said Wednesday, leaving economists cautiously hopeful about the sector's prospects for next year. More Info...  

Reuters - U.S. manufacturing rebounded in December after a contraction in November, while construction spending fell less than expected in November, according to data on Wednesday suggesting a moderate economic expansion.

AP - Construction activity showed further weakness as spending on homes dropped for a record eighth consecutive month. More Info...  

Reuters - U.S. private sector employment contracted in December, the first time since April 2003, a private employment service report showed on Wednesday.

Economy News

AP - The U.S. economy is ending the year with a hopeful set of reports showing that consumer confidence soared in December and the worst of the downturn for the battered housing market may be over. The Conference Board reported Thursday that consumer confidence shot up to an eight-month high of 109.0 in December.

Reuters - U.S. existing home sales rose in November for a second straight month and consumer confidence hit an eight-month high in December, according to reports on Thursday showing the economy ending the year on a solid note.

Reuters - Business activity in the U.S. Midwest expanded in December at a faster rate than expected as new orders improved, even as hiring contracted, a report showed on Thursday.

Reuters - Sales of U.S. existing home rose 0.6 percent in November hitting a 6.28 million-unit annual rate, according to a report from the National Association of Realtors on Thursday that modestly topped economists' expectations.

Reuters - U.S. consumer confidence rebounded in December, rising to an eight-month high as consumers' view of the labor market improved, a survey showed on Thursday.

Reuters - The number of workers applying for jobless benefits rose a smaller-than-expected 1,000 to 317,000 in the week ended December 23, according to a Labor Department report on Thursday that showed a stable job market.

Economy News AP - Sales of new homes bounced back in November and have now posted increases in three of the past four months, a hopeful sign that this year's severe drop in housing may finally be coming to an end. The Commerce Department reported Wednesday that sales of new single-family home rose 3.4 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.047 million units. More Info...  

Reuters - Sales of new U.S. homes were unexpectedly strong in November and the backlog of unsold homes shrank, according to government data on Wednesday that suggested the worst of the housing slump may be in the past.

Reuters - Sales of new U.S. homes rose a higher-than-expected 3.4 percent in November, but they were down 15.3 percent from a year ago, a government report on Wednesday showed.

Economy News

Reuters - China's economy is expected to maintain robust, relatively inflation-free growth next year, a state think-tank and central bank officials said on Tuesday.

Reuters - China's economy is expected to maintain robust, relatively inflation-free growth next year, a state think-tank and central bank officials said on Tuesday.

Economy News

AP - The Japanese government kept its assessment of the economy unchanged on Monday, saying sluggish consumption was hurting the country's economic recovery, as the central bank's governor remained cautious about an early interest rate hike.

AP - The Japanese government kept its assessment of the economy unchanged on Monday, saying sluggish consumption was hurting the country's economic recovery, as the central bank's governor remained cautious about an early interest rate hike.

Reuters - China's central bank said on Monday that it would continue to take steps to keep investment and credit growth in check, while pressing ahead with efforts to make the value of its currency more market-driven. More Info...