WASHINGTON — Wholesale companies added to their stockpiles for a 17th straight month in May but their sales declined for only the second time in the past 11 months, providing further evidence of the U.S. economy’s slowdown in the spring. ...

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WASHINGTON — Builders broke ground on more new homes in May, but not enough to signal a recovery in the troubled housing market. New-home construction rose 3.5 percent from April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 560,000 units per ...

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WASHINGTON — Businesses cut back on their orders for heavy machinery, computers, autos and airplanes in April, reducing demand for long-lasting manufactured goods by the largest amount in six months. Orders for durable goods fell 3.6 percent, and a key ...

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WASHINGTON — More Americans bought new homes in April, but sales remain far below the pace that would represent a healthy housing market. The Commerce Department says new-home sales rose 7.3 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate ...

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The expanded Seagirt Marine Terminal will open for business in August 2012, its operator said Wednesday, with upgrades that will make the Port of Baltimore more hospitable to the next generation of supersized cargo ships. Port officials hope the terminal ...

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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 — Consumers spent more on gasoline, clothing and autos in April, pushing retail sales up for a 10th straight month. But much of the gain came from a surge in gasoline and food prices. Retail sales rose 0.5 percent ...

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WASHINGTON — U.S. businesses increased orders for industrial machinery, computers and autos in March, lifting factory orders for the fifth consecutive month. The Commerce Department says orders rose 3 percent in March after a 0.7 percent increase in February. A ...

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WASHINGTON — Builders broke ground on more new homes last month, giving the weak housing market a slight boost at the start of the spring buying season. Home construction rose 7.2 percent in March from February to a seasonally adjusted ...

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WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. businesses added to their stockpiles in February for a 14th straight month and sales increased for an eighth consecutive month. The gains suggest factory orders will rise in the coming months. Business inventories rose 0.5 percent ...

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