The U.S. says new claims for unemployment benefits matched a four-year low last week, a new signal that the labor market is improving in the world’s largest economy. The government said Thursday that 351,000 jobless workers made initial claims for unemployment compensation — 14,000 fewer than the week before. The requests for assistance were at […]
US Jobless Benefit Claims Match Four-Year Low
US Businesses Sharply Boosting Employment
Businesses in the United States boosted payrolls more than forecast in February, while the jobless rate remained unchanged from January’s 8.3 percent. In its closely watched monthly report, the U.S. Labor Department said Friday that employers hired 227,000 new workers last month. In addition, the report revised upward the number of people hired in January […]
US Jobless Benefit Claims Edge Higher
The number of unemployed Americans making their first claims for jobless benefits edged higher last week, but remained at a level suggesting the country’s labor market is strengthening. The U.S. Labor Department said Thursday that 362,000 unemployed workers sought compensation. But the four-week average remained at about 355,000 — close to a four-year low. Economists […]
Jobless Benefit Claims Edge Lower in US
Claims for new jobless benefits in the U.S. are continuing to fall, the latest sign of an improving labor market in the world’s largest economy. The government said Thursday that 351,000 workers made initial claims for unemployment compensation last week, 2,000 fewer than the week before. Claims for jobless assistance in the U.S. have generally […]
US Economy Grows Faster Than First Thought
The U.S. economy grew a bit faster than first thought in the last few months of 2011, as incomes grew and stores stocked up shelves to meet growing demand. The Commerce Department says the nation’s gross domestic product expanded at a three percent annual rate. The GDP sums up all the goods and services produced […]
US Trade Deficit Grows
The U.S. trade deficit got nearly four percent worse in December as a reviving economy boosted demand for imported goods. Both imports and exports hit record highs, but imports grew even more than the flow of goods exported from the United States. Friday’s report from the Commerce Department says the gap between what foreigners sell […]
Deal Reached for US Homeowners in Massive Foreclosure Case
U.S. President Barack Obama said Thursday that a $25 billion deal with banks is a “major step” toward reviving the troubled housing market, and turns the page on an era of “recklessness.” Banks have agreed to cut the amount of money some homeowners owe, allow others to refinance their loans at lower interest rates, and […]
US Job Market Improves
Layoffs declined last week in the United States, a sign that problems in the job market are easing. Thursdays’ report from the labor Department says the number of people signing up for unemployment assistance fell by 15,000 last week to a nationwide total of 358,000. That means the number of layoffs fell close to a […]
US Labor Market Surges, Jobless Rate Falls
The U.S. says its labor market surged last month, with nearly a quarter million workers added to company payrolls, and that its unemployment rate fell to 8.3 percent, the lowest in almost three years. In its closely watched monthly report, the government said Friday that 243,000 jobs were added to the economy, a month after […]