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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WASHINGTON — Fewer Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, partly reversing a sharp jump in applications the previous week. The Labor Department said Thursday that the number of people applying for unemployment benefits dropped 13,000 to a seasonally adjusted ...

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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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It is time for state governments to start owning up to the true value of their pension debt and make big changes to ensure that they can meet their obligations to retirees, an economist has told a congressional committee. Andrew ...

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Rising prices at the gas pump and in grocery aisles are starting to crimp shoppers’ outlook. The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index fell sharply from a three-year high in February, reversing five straight months of improvement. The decline raises questions ...

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WASHINGTON — Consumers spending rose in February at the fastest pace in four months, but a big part of the increase went to cover higher gas prices. The Commerce Department said Monday that consumer spending jumped 0.7 percent in February. ...

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WASHINGTON — Companies trimmed their orders for long-lasting manufactured goods in February, buying fewer computers, machines and primary metals. Durable-goods orders fell 0.9 percent last month, the Commerce Department said Thursday. It was the fourth decline in the past five ...

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WASHINGTON — Builders broke ground last month on the fewest homes in nearly two years, a reflection of declines in home prices and diminished demand that has made it difficult for them to compete. The Commerce Department says home construction ...

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WASHINGTON — Homebuilders’ pessimistic outlook improved slightly this month, but it remains dim amid falling home prices and a weak pace of construction. The National Association of Home Builders said Tuesday that its index of industry sentiment for March improved ...

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WASHINGTON — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits rose last week, only the second increase in six weeks. The Labor Department says applications rose by 26,000 to a seasonally adjusted 397,000 during the week ended March 5. The rise ...

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