°®¶¹´«Ã½

Fewer Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week as the need to retain staff keeps firings at the lowest levels in more than a decade.

Residential-construction permits in the U.S. climbed in October to a six-year high, pointing to a pickup in homebuilding after activity cooled because of a slowdown in multifamily projects.

Wholesale prices in the U.S. unexpectedly increased in October as higher costs for services and food outweighed a slump in energy.

Container traffic at the Port of Los Angeles increased in October as the port works to resolve congestion issues.

Industrial production in the U.S. dropped in October, weighed down by declines at utilities, mines and automakers that signal manufacturing started the fourth quarter on soft footing.

Working households may soon have an alternative to the modern dilemma of how to take delivery of stuff ordered online: have it dropped off in your car.

Consumer confidence rose more than forecast in November, reaching a seven-year high and indicating Americans will be in the mood to step up holiday spending.

United Parcel Service Inc. sees the boom in online retailing as an opportunity, not a threat, as the delivery company devises new tactics to make e-commerce more profitable, Chief Executive Officer David Abney said.

American consumers ate out and shopped for clothes in October, enjoying a windfall from cheaper gasoline and prompting a rebound in retail sales heading into the holiday-shopping season.

A.P. Moeller-Maersk A/S, operator of the world’s biggest container line, said third-quarter profit increased as it cut costs and boosted box volumes.