WASHINGTON — The U.S. government reported a rare surplus of $113 billion for April — the largest in five years and a sign of the nation’s improving finances. Steady economic growth and higher tax rates have boosted the tax revenue ...

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Maryland lost 6,600 jobs between March and April, ending a six-month trend of positive job growth and pushing the state’s unemployment rate up to 6.7 percent. The Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation announced Friday that the state lost 6,000 ...

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National foreclosure filings in April hit the lowest monthly total since July 2007, a new report by the data firm RealtyTrac shows. The filings, which include default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions, were reported on 188,780 properties in the ...

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WASHINGTON — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits was mostly unchanged last week, evidence that the weak economy is struggling to generate jobs. Unemployment benefit applications ticked down 1,000 to a seasonally adjusted 428,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. ...

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WASHINGTON — Consumers spent more in April but much of the increase was eaten up by higher food and energy prices. After discounting for the jump in prices, spending barely budged and after-tax incomes were flat for a second straight ...

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WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve last month debated whether it should start reversing policies to prevent inflation from taking off and some members said the Fed might need to start boosting interest rates this year. Some members thought the Fed ...

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WASHINGTON — For homebuilders, it hardly feels like an economic recovery. Nearly two years after the recession ended, the pace of construction is inching along at less than half the level considered healthy. Single-family home building, the bulk of the ...

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WASHINGTON — U.S. consumers paid more for gas and food in April, pushing inflation to its highest level in two and a half years. But so far this month, inflationary pressures have begun to ease. The Consumer Price Index increased ...

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NEW YORK — Retail revenue surged in April, helped by a late Easter holiday. The gains build on a trend that began late last year, but higher gas prices threaten to cut into consumers’ spending power. Overall, revenue at major ...

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NEW YORK — A monthly survey says concerns about jobs and inflation eased in April, pushing the Consumer Confidence Index above expectations. The Conference Board says the index rose to 65.4 from a revised 63.8 in March. Economists expected a ...

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