WASHINGTON — Sales of new homes fell significantly in January, a dismal sign after the worst year for that sector in nearly a half-century. New-home sales dropped to a seasonally adjusted rate of 284,000 homes last month, the Commerce Department ...

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WASHINGTON — Fewer Americans requested unemployment benefits last week, pushing the average number of applications over the past four weeks to the lowest level in more than two and a half years. Applications for unemployment benefits dropped by 22,000 last ...

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WASHINGTON — More people applied for unemployment benefits last week, one week after claims had fallen to the lowest level in nearly three years. The Labor Department says 410,000 people sought unemployment assistance last week, a jump of 25,000 from ...

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WASHINGTON — Wholesale prices outside of the volatile food and energy categories rose at the fastest pace in more than two years last month, a sign inflation could be rising as the economy strengthens. The increase comes after months of ...

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WASHINGTON — Activity at manufacturing and service companies has reached a level not seen since before the recession, suggesting a stronger year for hiring. Some economists are even hopeful that Friday’s employment report may be better than first thought, based ...

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WASHINGTON — Americans spent at the fastest pace in three years in 2010, boosted by a strong finish in December. Consumer spending rose 0.7 percent in December, the sixth straight monthly increase, the Commerce Department reported Monday. Households saw their ...

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WASHINGTON — The Consumer Confidence Index rose in January to its highest point in eight months but remains well below the levels indicating a healthy economy. The Conference Board says its Consumer Confidence Index climbed to 60.6 this month, up ...

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WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve last month absorbed a wave of criticism for announcing it will buy $600 billion in Treasury bonds to try to revitalize the economy. It won’t help, critics said. So when Fed officials meet Tuesday, they’re ...

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WASHINGTON — The tax deal struck by President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans essentially gives Americans a pay raise — pumping money into the economy almost immediately and probably creating hundreds of thousands of jobs over the next two years, ...

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WASHINGTON — Americans earned more and spent more last month, and the number of people applying for unemployment benefits dropped last week to the lowest level in more than two years. At the same time, demand for long-lasting manufactured goods ...

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