WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve stopped short of signaling any timetable Wednesday for slowing its bond buying. Instead, it dropped hints that it might need to maintain its $85 billion a month in bond purchases, which have helped keep long-term ...

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WASHINGTON — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell 24,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 334,000, a sign that steady job gains should continue. The Labor Department said Thursday that the four-week average, which smooths out fluctuations, ...

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WASHINGTON — Chairman Ben Bernanke ended weeks of speculation Wednesday by saying the Federal Reserve will likely slow its bond-buying program later this year and end it next year if the economy continues to improve. The Fed’s bond purchases have ...

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The U.S. economy grew at a modest 2.4 percent annual rate from January through March, slightly slower than initially estimated. Consumer spending was stronger than first thought, but businesses restocked more slowly and state and local government spending cuts were ...

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WASHINGTON — Chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress Wednesday that the U.S. job market remains weak and that it is too soon for the Federal Reserve to slow its extraordinary stimulus programs. Reducing the Fed’s efforts to keep borrowing rates low ...

Tagged with: Ben Bernanke bonds Congress Economy federal reserve growth housing market Recession Unemployment

The Federal Reserve has broadened its oversight beyond banks and now monitors a wide-range of financial institutions that could hasten another financial crisis, Chairman Ben Bernanke said Friday. Bernanke said the Fed is still monitoring banks and other systematically important ...

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WASHINGTON — The number of Americans who applied for unemployment benefits fell by 4,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 323,000, a five-year low. Layoffs have returned to pre-recession levels, a trend that could lead to more hiring. The Labor ...

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WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve on Wednesday stood by its aggressive efforts to stimulate the economy and reduce unemployment. And it sent its most explicit signal to date that tax increases and spending cuts that kicked in this year are ...

Tagged with: Ben Bernanke bonds Economy federal reserve growth interest rates prices Recession Unemployment

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid rose last week by 28,000, the third straight increase. Weekly applications increased to a seasonally adjusted 385,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. That’s the highest level since late November. The ...

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WASHINGTON — Unemployment rates fell in 22 U.S. states in February from January, a sign that hiring gains are benefiting many parts of the country. The Labor Department said Friday that unemployment rates rose in 12 states and were unchanged ...

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