WASHINGTON — Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke boldly predicted to Congress on Tuesday that rising oil prices will cause only a brief and modest rise in consumer inflation. If he’s wrong, as some lawmakers suggested to him, the risks are ...

Tagged with: Ben Bernanke bonds budget cuts chairman Congress consumers dollar Economy federal reserve growth inflation Recession Senate Banking Committee treasury

WASHINGTON — A Social Security tax cut that economists say should help the economy this year is off to a slow start. Consumers increased their spending last month at the weakest pace since June, even with the extra money in ...

Tagged with: bills Business commerce department consumers credit card debt Economy growth Recession social security tax spending

MIAMI — Blair Critch tried to go back to work as a teacher after her two boys were old enough for day care, but she didn’t earn enough to make it worth the cost. Shortly after, she stumbled on a ...

Tagged with: cell phone Economy income Recession Technology women

WASHINGTON — Fewer Americans signed contracts to buy homes in January, the latest evidence that the housing market is struggling to rise above depressed levels. The National Association of Realtors says its index of sales agreements for previously occupied homes ...

Tagged with: Economy fall foreclosure home sales housing january mortgage National Association of Realtors Real Estate Recession

Martin Foil’s company sells yarn that winds up in clothes from the Gap, Ralph Lauren and American Apparel, and business is growing. He’s buying new machines and hopes to hire as many as 200 workers this year. When he decided ...

Tagged with: Banks Business Economy finance loans National Federation of Independent Business Recession

Congress is on break while the federal government faces the possibility of a shutdown in less than a week if tea party conservative Republicans can’t find common ground at least temporarily with enough mostly liberal Democrats left over from the ...

Tagged with: Barack Obama budget Congress Economy federal government federal workers furlough pursuit of justice Recession shutdown steven i. platt Taxes

WASHINGTON — Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac has posted a loss of $1.7 billion for the October-December quarter of last year, and a $19.8 billion loss for all of 2010. The government-controlled mortgage buyer is also asking for an additional $500 ...

Tagged with: Banking crisis fannie mae foreclosure freddie mac Government housing loss mortgage Real Estate Recession treasury washington

Through the recession and recovery, Maryland’s economy has been bolstered by other industries as manufacturing has waned, a trend that still gives many economic watchers cause for optimism. Health care continued to expand during the recession, adding 7,900 jobs in ...

Tagged with: Business Department of Business and Economic Development Economy jobs law firms Martin O'Malley maryland Recession Unemployment

Jeanette Toney moved into a new house in Glen Burnie last spring. By the end of summer, her job moved to South Carolina. The 63-year-old grandmother, who worked for a textile manufacturer, has come up empty so far in her ...

Tagged with: employees federal reserve bank Government high tech jobs Manufacturing Martin O'Malley maryland Recession Unemployment venture capital

BETHESDA — Walking into the Velovoom workout studio feels a little like walking into a dance club — the lighting is low, the music is pounding and people are moving with it. And owner Marc Caputo said he thinks this ...

Tagged with: bethesda Business Economy exercise gym Marc Caputo maryland Recession Small business success velovoom