The Federal Reserve is figuring out when to start unloading much of its $4.5 trillion in bond holdings — marking a turning point for an economy still recovering from the 2008 financial crisis.

Tagged with: Federal Reserve inflation

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumers did not boost their spending in June and their incomes failed to increase, further evidence that the economic recovery slowed in the spring. And Americans saved at the highest rate ...

Tagged with: Capital Economics Commerce Department consumer spending economy Fed Federal Reserve income inflation jobs recession unemployment

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Wholesale prices fell in April, reflecting declines in energy and food, while construction of new homes rose more than expected. But a drop in building permits, a gauge of future activity, ...

Tagged with: building permits Commerce Department Fed Federal Reserve inflation Labor Department new homes

By Sean Ryan A potential yearlong environmental review for a proposed streetcar system in Milwaukee would further devalue the federal grant the city wants to use for construction. Milwaukee officials are trying to avoid that scenario. “Every year we wait, ...

Tagged with: Bauman design/build environmental impact statement Federal Transit Administration grant inflation Milwaukee Polenske streetcar Washington

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumer inflation was tame in 2009, with prices rising 2.7 percent. Yet families felt squeezed as their spending power sank in the face of falling wages, job losses and higher prices ...

Tagged with: consumer Consumer Price Index inflation Labor Department recession

JEANNINE AVERSA AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Some Federal Reserve policymakers last month were conflicted over whether to expand or cut back a program intended to drive down mortgage rates and bolster the housing market, according to a document ...

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By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Productivity surged in the third quarter by the largest amount in six years while labor costs fell. While that indicates inflation is remaining under control, it also signals that workers’ wages ...

Tagged with: Commerce Department Fed Federal Reserve GDP inflation jobs productivity recession unemployment

By JEANNINE AVERSA AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve doesn’t expect the recovery will be strong enough to quickly drive down the jobless rate, and acknowledged its efforts to keep the rebound going could feed a new ...

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By ALAN ZIBEL and MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Business Writers WASHINGTON (AP) — The budding economic recovery is getting little help from the home building industry, which normally creates jobs and boosts growth as a recession ends. Construction of homes unexpectedly ...

Tagged with: BMO Capital Markets building permits cash for clunkers Commerce Department Construction economy foreclosure home building homebuyer homes inflation Labor Department National Association of Home Builders Obama recession tax credit Wall Street

By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Wholesale prices rose less than expected in October as the weak economy keeps inflation pressures largely in check. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Monday that inflation probably will remain ...

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