WASHINGTON — Hiring slowed to a near-standstill last month, raising doubts that the economy will rebound in the second half of the year after a spring slump. The economy generated only 18,000 net jobs in June, the fewest in nine months. ...

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WASHINGTON — The U.S. service sector, which employs nearly 90 percent of America’s work force, expanded for a 19th consecutive month in June. But growth slowed from May, a sign that the economy remains sluggish. The Institute for Supply Management ...

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NEW YORK — U.S. factory activity picked up in June after a sluggish May, helped by lower gas prices and some easing of supply disruptions. The Institute for Supply Management, a trade group of purchasing executives, said Friday that its ...

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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 — Americans spent in May at the weakest pace in 20 months, a sign that high gas prices and unemployment are holding back the economy. Consumer spending was unchanged, the Commerce Department said Monday. That was the worst result ...

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WASHINGTON — The number of people who applied for unemployment benefits last week rose by the most in a month, signaling growing weakness in the job market. Applications rose by 9,000 to a seasonally adjusted 429,000 last week, the Labor ...

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WASHINGTON — Americans paid more for food, cars and clothing in May. But overall consumer prices rose by the smallest amount in six months, slowed by the first drop in energy costs in nearly a year. Consumer Price Index rose ...

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WASHINGTON— Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke noted Tuesday that the job market and the economy have weakened in recent weeks. But he said that’s mainly because of higher gas prices and the Japan crises — factors that should ease in ...

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Oil prices fell below $100 a barrel Monday amid fresh signs of slowing U.S. economic growth and ahead of a meeting of the OPEC oil cartel, where a production increase may be up for discussion. By early afternoon in Europe, ...

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WASHINGTON — Employers hired only 54,000 new workers in May, the fewest in eight months, and the unemployment rate rose to 9.1 percent. The Labor Department report offered startling evidence that the U.S. economy is slowing, hampered by high gas ...

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