economy

May 19, 2016

Poll finds Americans more upbeat about own finances than economy

Americans are of two minds about the economy in the midst of an election race that largely hinges on the issue. They are strikingly pessimistic about the national economy yet comparatively upbeat about their own financial circumstances.

Apr 7, 2015

Why job growth and cheap gas aren’t doing what they should

Steady hiring is supposed to fire up economic growth. Cheap gasoline is supposed to power consumer spending. Falling unemployment is supposed to boost wages. Low mortgage rates are supposed to spur home buying. America's economic might is supposed to benefit its workers. Yet all those common assumptions about how an economy thrives appear to have broken down during the first three months of 2015.

Jan 20, 2014

Percentage of construction job openings at highest level since ’07

Construction companies hired fewer workers in November than in October, pushing the percentage of job openings to its highest level since April 2007.

Jan 17, 2014

Economy rebounds, just as predicted

I’ve been working hard to increase my humility, but the recent economic buzz in Wisconsin is going to make that tough.

Jun 6, 2013

Federal index ranks Wis. 49th in economic outlook

The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's latest index ranks Wisconsin 49th in the nation for economic growth.

Apr 26, 2013

Strong consumer spending, home construction accelerate economy

U.S. economic growth accelerated to an annual rate of 2.5 percent from January through March, buoyed by the strongest consumer spending in more than two years. Government spending fell, though, and tax increases and federal budget cuts could slow growth later this year.

Nov 8, 2012

Small business outlook for Obama’s second term

President Barack Obama's successful re-election to a second term is sinking in. No matter who small business owners voted for, the election takes away some of the uncertainty that small business owners have been carrying around. The question is whether Obama can satisfy those who say he hasn't done enough to help them expand and create jobs.

Nov 5, 2012

US service firms grow more slowly in October

U.S. service companies grew at a slightly slower pace in October than September because of a decline in new orders. But a measure of employment rose, indicating services firms hired more.

Sep 21, 2012

The intersection of hope and change

Years after graduating as an engineer, I still occasionally miss the mental rigors of calculus and differential equations.

Sep 20, 2012

Economy showing signs of life, census says

Five years after the housing bust, the U.S. economy is showing signs of finally bottoming out.

Sep 3, 2012

On Labor Day, jobs debate takes center stage

Republicans and Democrats jockeyed for economic high ground in a Labor Day warm-up to the Democratic National Convention, with Republican Mitt Romney labeling the holiday "another day of worrying" for too many Americans anxious about finding a job. Supporters of President Barack Obama worked to put a glossy sheen on economic progress after offering a more muddled message over the weekend.

Aug 29, 2012