WASHINGTON — Applications for weekly unemployment benefits spiked last week, largely because companies let go of thousands of workers after the holiday season. Weekly applications rose by 24,000 to a seasonally adjusted 399,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. That’s the ...

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WASHINGTON — The nation added 200,000 jobs in December in a burst of hiring that drove the unemployment rate to its lowest in almost three years. The figures raised hopes that the economy might finally be healthy enough to power ...

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WASHINGTON — The number of people applying for unemployment benefits dropped to the lowest level since May 2008, a hopeful sign that layoffs are declining and hiring is picking up. The Labor Department said Thursday that weekly applications fell by ...

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WASHINGTON — A steady decline in the number of Americans applying for weekly unemployment benefits is the latest signal that the U.S. economy has strengthened and businesses may be poised to step up hiring. Applications fell last week fell to ...

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WASHINGTON — A contentious labor dispute between the government and Boeing Co. that spawned a national political fight likely will be settled after the company and the Machinists union announced Wednesday they’d reached a tentative deal on a new four-year ...

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For most of the 240,000 passengers who fly American Airlines each day, the airline’s bankruptcy filing should have little noticeable impact. American continues to operate flights, honor tickets and take reservations. It says its frequent-flier program will be unaffected. Some ...

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WASHINGTON — Employers advertised more jobs in September than at any other point in the past three years. The increase suggests hiring could pick up in the next few months. Competition for jobs is fierce. And many employers aren’t rushing ...

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WASHINGTON — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits dipped slightly last week, though not by enough to suggest that hiring is picking up. Weekly applications for unemployment benefits declined 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 402,000, the Labor Department said ...

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WASHINGTON — Consumers paid more for food and gas last month, although inflation outside those volatile categories was tame. The Labor Department says the Consumer Price Index rose 0.3 percent in September, below a 0.4 percent rise in August. Excluding ...

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The Baltimore County Council approved a measure Monday night that allows county employees to resolve labor disputes through binding arbitration. Police officers and firefighters have been able to resolve labor disputes through arbitration for some time; the new policy will ...

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