WASHINGTON — They’re young, healthy and flat broke — and now the government says they have to buy thousands of dollars’ worth of medical insurance. What should tapped-out twentysomethings do? Well, some may just do nothing. The annual fine for ...

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WASHINGTON — Millions of college students could be in for a shock this summer when the interest rate on a popular federally subsidized student loan doubles unless Congress acts. College students on Tuesday delivered more than 130,000 letters to congressional ...

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WASHINGTON — The federal budget deficit fell sharply in January compared to a year earlier, as an improving economy lifts income tax revenue. The deficit is on track to shrink this year, but the red ink will still run deep: ...

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WASHINGTON — Ben Bernanke says the job market isn’t as strong as the steadily declining unemployment rate might suggest. Responding to questions at a Senate hearing Tuesday, he noted that the unemployment rate doesn’t capture the plight of millions of ...

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WASHINGTON — The average federal worker earns about 2 percent more than a private sector worker in a comparable profession, though the government’s generous pension system means that overall compensation is significantly higher, a government study released Monday said. Once ...

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WASHINGTON — The federal deficit was lower in the first quarter of the 2012 budget year than the same period last year. Yet, the imbalance remains high by historical standards and should keep lawmakers debating tax increases and spending cuts ...

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WASHINGTON — The imminent collapse of a special deficit-reduction supercommittee on Monday promises to set off yet another round of the Washington blame game as the panel officially admits failure in its quest to sop up at least $1.2 trillion ...

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WASHINGTON — The richest 1 percent of Americans have been getting far richer over the last three decades while the middle class and poor have seen their after-tax household income only crawl up in comparison, according to a government study. ...

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WASHINGTON — Six days away from a potentially calamitous government default, House Republicans appeared to be coalescing Wednesday around a work-in-progress plan by House Speaker John Boehner to increase the U.S. borrowing limit and chop $1 trillion in federal spending. ...

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WASHINGTON — A continuing weak economy and last month’s bipartisan tax cut legislation will drive the government’s deficit to a record $1.5 trillion this year, a new government estimate predicts. The eye-popping numbers mean the government will continue to borrow ...

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