A survey released Friday indicates China’s manufacturing slowed in December for a second month because of weak global demand and U.S. and European financial problems. The latest HSBC Purchasing Managers Index, designed to preview the state of Chinese industry before official output data are published, stood at 48.7 in December from a 32-month low of […]
US Jobless Claims Rise
Posted December 29th, 2011 at 12:20 pm (UTC-5)
The number of Americans signing up for unemployment compensation rose last week, an exception to the generally improving trend in the U.S. job market. Thursday’s report from the Labor Department says first-time jobless claims rose 15,000 to a nationwide total of 381,000. But economists say averaging unemployment claims over a four-week period gives a more […]
Top Credit Rating Agency Revises Nigeria’s Outlook
Posted December 29th, 2011 at 12:00 pm (UTC-5)
Credit rating agency Standard and Poors has revised Nigeria’s economic outlook from stable to positive. In a statement, the rating agency says the Nigerian government, under President Goodluck Jonathan, has undertaken several important reform initiatives and is tightening its fiscal and monetary stance. It says authorities have restructured and strengthened the banking sector, adding that […]
US Jobless Claims Rise
Posted December 29th, 2011 at 10:15 am (UTC-5)
The number of Americans signing up for unemployment compensation rose last week, an exception to the generally improving trend in the U.S. job market. Thursday’s report from the Labor Department says first-time jobless claims rose 15,000 to a nationwide total of 381,000. But economists say averaging unemployment claims over a four-week period gives a more […]
Reports: US Online Sales Jump, Car Sales Improve
Posted December 28th, 2011 at 4:30 pm (UTC-5)
Economic data published Wednesday shows the U.S. economy benefiting from better Internet commerce, improving auto sales, and some possible gains in the job market. A company that tracks Internet activity says online retail sales jumped 16 percent last week over the same period a year earlier. Comscore says ecommerce has been strong for the important […]
US Consumer Confidence Rises
Posted December 27th, 2011 at 4:20 pm (UTC-5)
A series of reports paint a mixed picture of the U.S. economy Tuesday, as consumer confidence rises, home prices fall, and an iconic retailer shuts a number of stores. U.S. consumer confidence hit its highest level in eight months in December as the job market improved. Tuesday’s data comes from the Conference Board, a private […]
US Consumer Confidence Rises
Posted December 27th, 2011 at 1:20 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. consumer confidence hit its highest level in eight months in December, perhaps due to an improving job market. Tuesday’s data comes from the Conference Board, a private research group in New York. Experts watch consumer confidence for clues about the consumer spending that drives most U.S. economic activity. A separate report Tuesday shows the […]
US Consumer Confidence Rises
Posted December 27th, 2011 at 11:35 am (UTC-5)
U.S. consumer confidence hit its highest level in eight months in December, perhaps due to an improving job market. Tuesday’s data comes from the Conference Board, a private research group in New York. Experts watch consumer confidence for clues about the consumer spending that drives most U.S. economic activity. A separate report Tuesday shows the […]
US Job Market Improves
Posted December 22nd, 2011 at 10:45 am (UTC-5)
The U.S. job market improved slightly last week as the number of people signing up for unemployment compensation fell to the lowest level in more than three years. Thursday’s report from the Labor Department says initial jobless claims fell 4,000 to a nationwide total of 364,000. An improved job market will probably boost consumer confidence […]
European Central Bank Makes Massive Loans to 523 Banks
Posted December 21st, 2011 at 4:55 pm (UTC-5)
The European Central Bank is lending a record amount of money to banks in the 17 nations that use the euro, in hopes of limiting the widespread effects of the governmental debt crisis. The central bank Wednesday said it would make $638 billion in three-year loans to 523 banks, in an effort to encourage them […]
