US Economy - Page 33

AFP - US housing starts plunged to a six-year low to exacerbate fears for the outlook of the world's largest economy, according to data.

Reuters - The pace of U.S. home building fell sharply in October in a sign that the housing sector may still have a rocky road ahead, government data showed on Friday.

Economy News

AP - A big drop in gas prices pushed consumer costs down for a second straight month, and factories staged a modest rebound — signs the Federal Reserve is managing to stem inflation without pushing the country into recession.

Reuters - A big energy price drop pulled U.S. consumer prices down sharply in October while industrial output was weak, showing a cooling economy and easing worries over inflation.

FT.com - As president and chief executive of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Cathy Minehan works on policy decisions designed to promote the health of the US economy. More Info...  

AP - The number of Americans filing claims for unemployment benefits dipped last week to the lowest level in a month, signaling that the labor market remains healthy in spite of the slowing economy. More Info...  

Reuters - A drop in energy prices helped pull U.S. consumer prices down by a more-than-expected 0.5 percent in October, but prices were up 0.1 percent after stripping out volatile food and energy, the government reported on Thursday.

Reuters - Factors ranging from drought in Australia to slower exports growth in Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan are set to slow economic expansion in most Asian countries in 2007, a Reuters poll shows. Still, economists say the regional slowdown will be mild, provided Asia's main export markets, including the United States, maintain decent growth rates.

Economy News FT.com - Federal Reserve policymakers are becoming a little more confident about their ability to engineer a soft landing for the US economy, minutes published on Wednesday reveal. More Info...  

FT.com - Federal Reserve policymakers are becoming a little more confident about their ability to engineer a soft landing for the US economy, minutes published on Wednesday reveal. More Info...  

Reuters - U.S. Federal Reserve officials worried last month that inflation might not recede as hoped and an inflationary psychology could set in, making their job tougher, according to meeting minutes released on Wednesday.

AP - Keeping the economy from overheating with inflation remains the top concern of Federal Reserve policymakers, records of their most recent secret deliberations show.

AP - The federal agency that insures private pension plans for millions of Americans logged a deficit of $18.1 billion this year, a big improvement from last year as a new law helped to put the agency on better financial footing. More Info...  

Reuters - Manufacturing activity in New York State factories rose unexpectedly in November to its highest level since June, the New York Federal Reserve said on Wednesday. More Info...  

Economy News

AP - Inflation at the wholesale level plunged at a record pace in October, led by big declines for gasoline and new cars, while retail sales slid for a second straight month.

AP - Inflation at the wholesale level plunged at a record pace in October, led by big declines for gasoline and new cars, while retail sales slid for a second straight month.

Reuters - U.S. producer prices took their sharpest tumble in October since a matching record drop five years ago, influenced by cheaper energy that also sapped retail sales and showed a softening pace of economic activity.

Reuters - U.S. core producer prices took their sharpest tumble in more than 13 years during October because of a continuing decline in energy costs and falling new car and truck prices, the Labor Department said on Tuesday.

AP - The economies of the 12 nations that use the euro grew by 0.5 percent in the third quarter, slowing from the second quarter, the EU statistics agency Eurostat said Tuesday. More Info...  

AP - Japan's economy grew at a stronger-than-expected 2.0 percent annual pace in the July-September quarter, the government said Tuesday, thanks to surprisingly robust corporate investment in factories and equipment.