The world economy will be more sluggish this year, the International Monetary Fund warned Monday, citing trade disputes that have seen China slow to its weakest pace in 30 years as well as the impact of rising U.S. interest rates. ...
Read More »Consumer confidence slips in November, yet stays strong
U.S. consumer confidence slipped this month, although it remains strong. The Conference Board, a business research group, said Tuesday that its consumer-confidence index fell to 135.7 in November from October’s 18-year high 137.9. The index measures consumers’ assessment of current ...
Read More »US trade gap grew to $54 billion in September
Record imports expanded the U.S. trade deficit for the fourth straight month in September, as the politically sensitive trade deficit in goods with China hit a record. The Commerce Department said Friday that the gap between what America sells and ...
Read More »Record imports push US trade gap to $53.2 billion
Record imports drove the U.S. trade deficit up for the third straight month in August. The deficit in the trade of goods with China and Mexico hit records. The Commerce Department said Friday that the trade gap — the difference ...
Read More »US producer prices dip 0.1 percent in August
U.S. wholesale prices fell unexpectedly last month for the first time since February 2017, pulled down by falling prices for transportation and warehousing services. The drop suggests that inflationary pressures may be easing despite the strength of the U.S. economy. ...
Read More »US trade deficit widened to $50.1 billion in July
The U.S. trade deficit widened for the second straight month in July, reaching the highest level since February, as imports hit an all-time high. The deficit in goods with China and the European Union set records. The Commerce Department said ...
Read More »US firms to Trump: Don’t raise tariffs on more Chinese goods
Fishermen off the Alaskan coast. A Florida maker of boat trailers. A building-materials distributor in Tennessee. Those and hundreds of other American businesses are delivering the same plea to President Donald Trump as he considers imposing tariffs on nearly 40 ...
Read More »US factories register faster-than-expected growth in June
American factories expanded at an unexpectedly fast pace in June, another sign of strength for U.S. industry, however, manufacturing will have to contend in coming months with uncertainty about trade and a strengthening dollar. The Institute for Supply Management, a ...
Read More »US consumers were a bit less optimistic in June
American consumers lost a bit of their optimism in June although they are still feeling good by historical standards. The Conference Board, a business research group, said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index slipped this month to 126.4, down from ...
Read More »Producer prices up 0.5 pct from April, 3.1 pct in past year
U.S. wholesale prices last month posted the biggest 12-month gain since January 2012, a sign that the strong economy is beginning to rouse inflation. The Labor Department said Wednesday that its producer price index— which measures inflation before it reaches ...
Read More »US home prices post 6.2 percent annual gain in January
U.S. home prices posted another big gain in January, pushed higher by a shortage of homes for sale. Standard & Poor’s said Tuesday that its S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller national home-price index climbed 6.2 percent in January from a year earlier. ...
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