WASHINGTON — The world economy has entered a “dangerous new phase,” according to the chief economist of the International Monetary Fund. As a result, the international lending organization has sharply downgraded its economic outlook for the United States and Europe ...

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COLLEGE PARK — The percentage of college students in Maryland who defaulted on their federal student loans increased last year, as a tough job market for new grads put pressure on student borrowers. The percentage of borrowers in the state ...

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Maryland shed 2,500 jobs in August, the jobless rate climbed to 7.3 percent and the state’s labor secretary said there is no end in sight for the uneven recovery and lackluster employment figures. Since August 2010, payrolls in Maryland have ...

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In the recent address to Congress by President Obama unveiling a new jobs bill, there was specific mention of addressing the need to extend unemployment benefits. The federal government has come to recognize the necessity of insuring that millions of ...

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WASHINGTON — Fixed mortgage rates fell to the lowest level in six decades for the second straight week. But few Americans can take advantage of the historically low rates. Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate on the 30-year ...

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WASHINGTON — Consumers paid more for a range of goods and services last month, and unemployment benefit applications jumped last week to the highest level in three months. The latest data offered a picture of an economy facing inflationary pressures ...

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WASHINGTON — The number of people applying for unemployment benefits jumped last week to the highest level in three months. It’s a sign that the job market remains depressed. The Labor Department said Thursday that weekly applications rose by 11,000 ...

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WASHINGTON — Consumers spent less on autos, clothing and furniture to leave retail sales unchanged in August. The lack of growth suggests households became more cautious during wild stock market fluctuations and increased fears about the economy. The Commerce Department ...

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WASHINGTON — The ranks of America’s poor swelled to almost 1 in 6 people last year, reaching a new high as long-term unemployment left millions of Americans struggling and out of work. The number of uninsured edged up to 49.9 ...

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WASHINGTON — Confronted with an economy that has decidedly underperformed this year, economists are scaling back their growth forecasts for 2011 and next year. In their latest forecast, top economists with the National Association for Business Economics predict that the ...

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