By Paul Wiseman AP Economics Writer Washington — An economy growing 2 percent a year might be tolerable in normal times. Today, it’s a near-disaster. A growth rate of 5 percent or higher is needed to put a major dent ...

Tagged with: economy Fed GDP gross domestic product National Association of Home Builders recession

By Christopher S. Rugaber AP Economics Writer Washington — Applications for jobless benefits dropped last week for the third time in four weeks, a sign that employers are cutting fewer jobs. New claims for jobless benefits fell by 16,000 to ...

Tagged with: Commerce Department gross domestic product jobless claims Labor Department unemployment

By MARLEY SEAMAN AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Economists say the U.S. recovery continued during the second quarter of this year with more businesses hiring workers and fewer cutting jobs, but the pace of growth has slowed, a ...

Tagged with: economy GDP gross domestic product NABE National Association for Business Economics survey

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Personal incomes rose in November at the fastest pace in six months while spending posted a second straight increase, raising hopes that that the recovery from the nation’s deep recession might ...

Tagged with: Capital Economics Commerce Department Fed GDP gross domestic product income spending stimulus unemployment

By ALEX KENNEDY Associated Press Writer SINGAPORE (AP) — Stubbornly high joblessness threatens to trigger loan defaults and drag on consumption next year, hobbling a U.S. economy struggling to rebound from recession, World Bank President Robert Zoellick said Wednesday. Zoellick ...

Tagged with: Central Bank consumer spending gross domestic product jobs stimulus unemployment