WASHINGTON — Unemployment rates fell or held steady last month in nine key swing states at the center of this year’s presidential election. Rates dropped in Ohio, Florida, Wisconsin, Colorado, Iowa, Nevada and North Carolina. They were unchanged in New ...

Tagged with: Economy jobs Recession Unemployment

WASHINGTON — U.S. sales of previously occupied homes fell in September after hitting a two-year high in August, in part because there were fewer homes available for sale. The National Association of Realtors said Friday that sales dipped 1.7 percent ...

Tagged with: Economy home sales housing market Real Estate Recession

NEW YORK — Morgan Stanley said Thursday that its corporate clients are ready to do business — but they’re a little unnerved by the impending fiscal crisis. The bank reported higher revenue and net income for the third quarter, helped ...

Tagged with: Banks Economy morgan stanley Recession

WASHINGTON — The average U.S. rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage has fallen to near its record low set earlier this month. The rate on the most popular mortgage dipped to 3.37 percent from 3.39 last week, mortgage buyer Freddie ...

Tagged with: Economy freddie mac housing mortgage rates mortgages Recession

U.S. home construction is making a comeback that could invigorate the economy’s still-weak recovery. Builders last month started construction on single-family houses and apartments at the fastest rate in more than four years, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. And they ...

Tagged with: construction Economy housing real estate news Recession

LOS ANGELES — Confidence among U.S. homebuilders remains at its highest level in six years, reflecting improved optimism over the strengthening housing market this year and a pickup in visits by prospective buyers to builders’ communities. The National Association of ...

Tagged with: Economy national association of home builders/wells fargo builder sentiment index Real Estate Recession

WASHINGTON — U.S. industrial production increased only modestly in September, held back by weak growth in factory output. The Federal Reserve said Tuesday that output at factories, mines and utilities rose 0.4 percent in September. That followed a 1.4 percent ...

Tagged with: Economy factories federal reserve industrial production Recession

WASHINGTON — Americans stepped up their spending at retail businesses in September, reflecting stronger sales of autos, electronics and building supplies. Retail sales rose 1.1 percent last month, the Commerce Department said Monday. That followed a 1.2 percent increase in ...

Tagged with: Economy Recession retail sales

A survey released Tuesday by the National Federation of Independent Business shows that owners became more pessimistic during September as employment and sales remained weak. The NFIB’s index of owner optimism fell 0.1 point to 92.8. The survey did have ...

Tagged with: Economy jobs National Federation of Independent Business Recession Small business

TOKYO — Plagued by uncertainty and fresh setbacks, the world economy has weakened further and will grow more slowly over the next year, the International Monetary Fund says in its latest forecast. Advanced economies are risking recession, the international lending ...

Tagged with: Economy imf Recession