By DANIEL WAGNER AP Business Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Fewer people applied for unemployment benefits last week, adding to evidence that hiring will pick up this year. According to a Labor Department report Thursday, the number of people seeking benefits ...

Tagged with: economy High Frequency Economics jobs Labor Department unemployment

By Martin Crutsinger AP Economics Writer Washington — Builders began work on more homes and the government boosted its investment in federal construction projects in November, marking a third straight monthly increase in construction activity after a dismal summer. Construction ...

Tagged with: AGC Associated General Contractors Commerce Department construction spending High Frequency Economics IHS Global Insight Obama

By Christopher S. Rugaber AP Economics Writer Washington (AP) — New hiring rose in March to its highest level in more than a year while job openings moved up slightly, signs the U.S. job market is slowly improving. Employers hired ...

Tagged with: High Frequency Economics jobs Labor Department National Federation of Independent Business recession

By Christopher S. Rugaber AP Economics Writer Washington (AP) — First-time claims for unemployment benefits dropped last week in the U.S. for the third straight week, a sign the job market is slowly recovering. Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell ...

Tagged with: High Frequency Economics jobs Labor Department productivity Thomson Reuters unemployment

By Daniel Wagner and Martin Crutsinger AP Business Writers Washington — Layoffs aren’t slowing as fast as some analysts had expected. That was the message Thursday in a government report that the number of people filing first-time claims for unemployment ...

Tagged with: BMO Capital Markets Conference Board Decision Economics High Frequency Economics jobs recession unemployment

By Alan Zibel AP Real Estate Writer Washington — The summer’s trend of rising home prices is flattening as the traditional home shopping season ends, two reports Tuesday showed. The Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller home price index of 20 major cities rose 0.3 ...

Tagged with: economic recovery High Frequency Economics home prices Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller home price index

Christopher S. Rugaber AP Economics Writer Washington — The number of newly laid-off workers filing claims for jobless benefits rose more than expected last week, as employers remain reluctant to hire even with the economy showing signs of recovery. Claims ...

Tagged with: High Frequency Economics Labor Department Thomson Reuters

Christopher S. Rugaber and Martin Crutsinger AP Economics Writers Washington — First-time claims for jobless benefits increased more than expected last week, a sign employers are reluctant to hire and the job market remains weak. And even though consumer spending ...

Tagged with: cash for clunkers Commerce Department High Frequency Economics JPMorgan Chase Labor Department