Economy News Updates

Business

US Retail Sales Advance for Fifth Month; May Revised Up

U.S. retail sales rose for a fifth month in June, and figures from May were revised upward amid gains at auto dealers and nonstore vendors, capping a quarter that probably saw consumer spending pick up after a tepid start to the year.

July 16, 2018
Business

US Payrolls Rise 213,000; Wage Gains Slow, Unemployment Up

U.S. hiring topped forecasts in June while unemployment rose from an 18-year low and wage gains unexpectedly slowed, indicating the labor market has room to keep expanding.

July 6, 2018
GovernmentBusiness

Trade Deficit Narrows to Smallest Since 2016 on Soybean Exports

The U.S. trade deficit narrowed in May to its smallest since October 2016 on a jump in exports of soybeans and aircraft amid the threat of retaliatory tariffs.

July 6, 2018
Business

US Growth ‘Close to a Peak’ as Trade Spat, Housing Pose Risks

The U.S. economy is booming this quarter as tax cuts power consumers and businesses. Yet risks are mounting that the high will be short-lived.

June 20, 2018
GovernmentBusiness

Bernanke Says US Economy Faces ‘Wile E. Coyote’ Moment in 2020

U.S. economic growth could face a challenging slowdown as the Trump Administration’s powerful fiscal stimulus fades after two years, according to former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.

June 8, 2018
Business

Capital-Equipment Orders Rise in Sign of Resilient Demand

Orders placed with U.S. factories for business equipment rebounded in April even as the prior month’s figure was revised downward, indicating resilient demand at the start of the second quarter, Commerce Department figures showed May 25.

May 25, 2018
Business

Many Americans Missing Solid Job Market’s Bounty, Fed Poll Shows

Many U.S. households remain in a precarious financial position despite unemployment falling to the lowest level in years, a new Federal Reserve survey shows.

May 22, 2018
Business

Consumer Comfort Index Declines for Fourth Straight Week

Americans’ sentiment fell for a fourth straight week as still-rising gasoline prices drove a measure of the buying climate down by the most in eight months, the Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index showed May 17.

May 17, 2018
GovernmentBusiness

Trump’s China Tariffs Will Pinch US Consumers, Retailers Warn

Americans will pay more for everything from big-screen TVs to school supplies if the Trump administration follows through on threats to slap tariffs on Chinese imports, U.S. retailers warned.

May 16, 2018
Business

Factory Production Shows Broad-Based Gain Outside Autos

U.S. factory production regained its footing in April to push capacity utilization to the highest since 2015, indicating the industry will support economic growth this quarter, Federal Reserve data showed Mahy 16.

May 16, 2018