US Economy - Page 29

Reuters - U.S. worker productivity rose by a weaker-than-expected 0.2 percent in the third quarter, but unit labor costs grew less than initially thought in a sign of moderating inflation pressure, government data showed on Tuesday.

Reuters - Planned U.S. layoffs rose 11 percent in November from the previous month, led by a heavy round of job cuts in the automotive industry, an independent report showed on Tuesday. More Info...  

AP - Chinese economic planners met Tuesday to set goals for 2007 amid efforts to keep the country's sizzling growth from racing out of control.

Economy News

AFP - The dollar steadied after having fallen to its lowest point since March 2005 against the euro, amid persistent concerns about a softening US economy.

AFP - The dollar steadied after having fallen to its lowest point since March 2005 against the euro, amid persistent concerns about a softening US economy.

FT.com - Currency traders have become convinced over the past two weeks that something big is afoot in the global economy. They are not convinced by the sanguine noises coming from the Federal Reserve and think the risks of a "hard landing" in the US economy have risen. But, in a departure from the old wisdom, they do not seem worried about the effects of a US downturn on European economies - rejecting the old adage that "when the US sneezes the rest of the world catches a cold". More Info...  

Reuters - Pending sales of existing U.S. homes fell 1.7 percent in October but held above the low hit in July, suggesting the housing market is stabilizing, a real estate trade association said on Monday. More Info...  

AFP - Switzerland's largest banking group, UBS, has said that the slowdown in the US economy will cast a shadow over global economic prospects in 2007, making financial markets more volatile.

Economy News

AP - Ecuador's president-elect joins a wave of Latin American leaders swept into power opposing the free-market economic policies that are preached by Washington but are hugely unpopular among the region's poor.

AP - Ecuador's president-elect joins a wave of Latin American leaders swept into power opposing the free-market economic policies that are preached by Washington but are hugely unpopular among the region's poor.

Economy News

AP - For the first time in almost four years, the nation's manufacturing sector has shrunk, and its fall is firing warning flares for the job market, economists said on Friday.

AP - For the first time in almost four years, the nation's manufacturing sector has shrunk, and its fall is firing warning flares for the job market, economists said on Friday.

AP - Construction activity in October plunged by the largest amount since the recession in 2001 as home building fell for a record seventh consecutive month.

Reuters - U.S. manufacturing contracted in November for the first time in 3-1/2 years, while construction spending fell sharply in October, according to reports on Friday pointing to a slowdown in the U.S. economy.

Reuters - U.S. factory activity shrank in November for the first time in 3-1/2 years as new orders, production and employment fell and prices paid rose, according to a survey published on Friday.

Reuters - U.S. construction spending fell a sharper-than-expected 1 percent last month as home building posted a seventh straight drop, according to a government report on Friday that underscored the weakness in the U.S. housing market.

AP - Japan's economy got more good news Friday as the government said consumer prices rose for the fifth straight month and the jobless rate dropped in October.

Economy News

Reuters - U.S. incomes grew steadily in October and spending rebounded, the government said on Thursday, but a Midwest business barometer showing a November slump raised doubts about the economy's direction.

AP - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. unsettled the retail industry Thursday, reporting a sales decline for the first time in 10 years and warning that its holiday sales would be disappointing. The discounter's news, coupled with a jump in unemployment benefit claims, raised concerns about the strength of the retailing sector at a critical time of the year.

FT.com - The dollar came under renewed assault on Thursday, tumbling on concerns about a slowing US economy. More Info...