Economy

WASHINGTON — The travel industry has made progress in recovering from the depths of the coronavirus pandemic, but a full recovery won’t be achieved until the last COVID restrictions are lifted, including restrictions on travel from China, representatives of the... Read More

WASHINGTON — Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Wash., admits he initially found the notion slightly intimidating. Day after day as he arrived for work in the economic development office in Tacoma-Pierce County, Washington, he was greeted by a sign that said, “We... Read More

WASHINGTON — Railroad unions that rejected a proposed labor contract on Monday are threatening the nation’s economy as the Christmas season approaches. The “no” vote by the unions sets the stage for a strike as soon as Dec. 9, unless... Read More

WASHINGTON — Despite a global pandemic that stalled state and local economies for months, a record 96% of Americans had bank accounts in 2021, according to a new survey released Tuesday by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The FDIC’s “2021... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Consumer Price Index was unchanged in July, a sign that rapidly declining gas prices are beginning to offset the pressures that led to a monthslong surge in inflation. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the... Read More

WASHINGTON — A shortage of one essential material could curtail America’s transition to new sources of clean energy according to a new report from S&P Global. The world’s copper supply is unlikely to be able to meet demand for all... Read More

NEW YORK — Though there has been some improvement in the metrics used to measure inflation, a slowing U.S. manufacturing sector among other factors suggests the risk of a looming recession continues to be strong, according to an economist with... Read More

WASHINGTON  — As president, Joe Biden has shepherded the economy’s recovery from an unforeseen global pandemic, kick-started long needed infrastructure repairs all across the nation, and seen the unemployment rate drop to 3.6% on his watch — nearly the lowest... Read More

AUSTIN, Texas — Energy scientists at the University of Texas at Austin contend in a new report that their state could strengthen its economy while eliminating carbon pollution within the next 30 years. The report maintains Texas is well-positioned to... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy ended 2021 by expanding at a healthy 6.9% annual pace from October through December, the government reported Wednesday, a slight downgrade from its previous estimates. For all of 2021, the nation’s gross domestic product —... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — A majority of Americans say they don't blame President Joe Biden for high gasoline prices, but they're giving his economic leadership low marks amid fears of inflation and deep pessimism about economic conditions. About 7 in 10... Read More

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks around the world swung on Tuesday, oil prices rose sharply and the price of nickel surged so much that trading for it was shut in London, as the economic fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine keeps rocking... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. employers added a robust 678,000 jobs in February, another gain that underscored the economy’s solid health as the omicron wave fades and more Americans venture out to spend at restaurants, shops and hotels despite surging inflation.... Read More

NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices surged above $110 per barrel Wednesday as Russian forces stepped up attacks on Ukrainian cities, while premarket trading on Wall Street pointed toward a higher open. Investors appeared to take in stride Federal Reserve... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy grew last year at the fastest pace since Ronald Reagan's presidency, bouncing back with resilience from 2020's brief but devastating coronavirus recession. The nation’s gross domestic product — its total output of goods and... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged on Wednesday, keeping them near zero, but signaled a raise in rates could come soon if inflation continues to run above its preferred target and the job market remains strong. The... Read More

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s second solo press conference since taking office turned into a marathon lasting one hour and 45 minutes on Wednesday as he was repeatedly pressed to defend his first year in office and lay out a... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will nominate three people for the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors, including Sarah Bloom Raskin, a former Fed and Treasury official, for the top regulatory slot and Lisa Cook, who would be the first... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week to the highest level since mid-November, but still low by historic standards. U.S. jobless claims climbed by 23,000 last week to 230,000. The four-week moving average,... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. employers added a modest 199,000 jobs last month while the unemployment rate fell sharply, at a time when businesses are struggling to fill jobs with many Americans remaining reluctant to return to the workforce. The Labor... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration on Thursday announced a plan to increase the number of commercial truck drivers in a bid to alleviate supply chain gridlock. The plan includes assistance to state motor vehicle departments to issue more commercial licenses,... Read More

NEW YORK (AP) — Global shares mostly slipped Tuesday as investors cautiously weighed how much damage the new omicron coronavirus variant may unleash on the global economy. Germany's DAX lost 1.1% to 15,106.35 in afternoon trading. France’s CAC 40 slipped... Read More

NEW YORK (AP) — Retailers are expected to usher in the unofficial start to the holiday shopping season Friday with bigger crowds than last year in a closer step toward normalcy. But the fallout from the pandemic continues to weigh... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats brushed aside months-long divisions and approached House passage of their expansive social and environment bill Friday, as President Joe Biden and his party neared a defining win in their drive to use their control of government... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is calling on energy providers to proactively coordinate American Rescue Plan Act funds to prevent utility shut-offs this winter. In a press briefing issued on Thursday, the Biden-Harris White House urged states, localities and tribes... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is highlighting billions of dollars in his giant bipartisan infrastructure deal to pay for the installation of electric vehicle chargers across the country, an investment he says will go a long way to curbing planet-warming carbon emissions while creating good-paying... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell to a new pandemic low 267,000 last week, another sign that the job market is recovering from last year's sharp coronavirus downturn. Jobless claims fell by 4,000 last... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s employers stepped up their hiring in October, adding a solid 531,000 jobs, the most since July and a sign that the recovery from the pandemic recession may be overcoming a virus-induced slowdown. Friday’s report from the Labor... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell to a fresh pandemic low last week, another sign the job market is healing after last year's coronavirus recession. Jobless claims dropped by 14,000 to 269,000 last week.... Read More

NEW YORK — Consumer confidence grew in October, reversing three month of declines due to concerns over the spread of the delta variant of the coronavirus, the Conference Board reported Tuesday. The not-for-profit, non advocacy think tank said its proprietary... Read More