WASHINGTON — U.S. consumer confidence rose this month to its highest level in almost five years, helped by a better outlook for hiring over the next six months. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index rose to ...

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WASHINGTON — A measure of the U.S. economy intended to signal future activity rose only slightly last month, suggesting growth could stay weak. The Conference Board says its index of leading indicators increased 0.2 percent in October after a 0.5 ...

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NEW YORK — Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Tuesday urged Congress and the Obama administration to strike a budget deal to avert tax increases and spending cuts that could trigger a recession next year. Without a deal, the measures ...

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WASHINGTON — U.S. factory production of machinery and equipment fell sharply last month, held back by temporary disruptions caused by Superstorm Sandy and companies’ fears that a federal budget crisis could trigger a recession next year. The Federal Reserve said ...

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WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve may be preparing to take further steps to stimulate an economy that remains too weak to reduce high unemployment. Minutes of the Fed’s Oct. 23-24 policy meeting, released Wednesday, suggest that it might unveil a ...

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WASHINGTON — U.S. wholesale businesses increased their stockpiles in September at the fastest pace in nine months and their sales jumped by the largest amount in 18 months. The increases suggest the U.S. economy grew faster over the summer than ...

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WASHINGTON — U.S. companies boosted their orders for manufactured goods by the largest amount in 18 months in September, but companies remained cautious in ordering goods that signal plans to expand and modernize. Factory orders rose 4.8 percent in September ...

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WASHINGTON — U.S. employers added 171,000 jobs in October, and hiring was stronger in August and September than first thought. The solid job growth showed that the economy is strengthening slowly but consistently. The unemployment rate rose to 7.9 percent ...

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WASHINGTON — Applications for U.S. unemployment benefits dropped 9,000 to a seasonally adjusted 363,000 last week, a level consistent with modest hiring. The report comes just before Friday’s October jobs data, the last broad snapshot of the economy before the ...

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WASHINGTON — Superstorm Sandy will end up causing about $20 billion in property damages and $10 billion to $30 billion more in lost business, according to IHS Global Insight, a forecasting firm. In the long run, the devastation the storm ...

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