http://www.mail.com/subjects/1730-economic-policy.html Mail.com - the best personalized free web-based Email en en http://sec-s.uicdn.com/mail.com/2.20/img/mailcom_logo_rss.png http://www.mail.com/subjects/1730-economic-policy.html http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1764126-stocks-lower-investors-watch-washington.html NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks slipped Thursday on Wall Street after more signs of tension emerged from federal budget talks in Washington. The Dow Jones industrial average was down 70 points at 13,174 just after 1 p.m. EST. The Standard & Poor's 500 index was down 10 points at 1,418. The Nasdaq composite index was down 24 points at 2,989. In ... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:23:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1764126-stocks-lower-investors-watch-washington.html 2012-12-13T17:23:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763296-speaker-obama-resists-curbing-federal-spending.html WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker John Boehner accused President Barack Obama of being so resistant to curbing federal spending that he risks an agreement to avoid the "fiscal cliff" of wide-ranging tax increases and spending cuts that will be automatically triggered in less than three weeks. "Unfortunately, the White House is so unserious about cutting spe... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:27:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763296-speaker-obama-resists-curbing-federal-spending.html 2012-12-13T16:27:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1763852-weekly-us-jobless-aid-applications-drop-to-343k.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell sharply for a fourth straight week, a sign that the job market may be improving. The Labor Department said Thursday that weekly applications for unemployment benefits fell 29,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 343,000, the lowest in two months. It is the second-lowest total t... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:16:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1763852-weekly-us-jobless-aid-applications-drop-to-343k.html 2012-12-13T16:16:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1764388-boehner-white-house-risks-fiscal-cliff-stalemate.html WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker John Boehner says the White House is so resistant to cutting spending that it is risking pushing the country off the "fiscal cliff." In remarks he prepared to deliver to reporters on Thursday, the Ohio Republican says President Barack Obama has not been serious about controlling spending, which Republicans say is the source... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:36:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1764388-boehner-white-house-risks-fiscal-cliff-stalemate.html 2012-12-13T15:36:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1764116-us-business-stockpiles-rise-04-percent-october.html WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. businesses added to their stockpiles in October while sales fell, a sign that companies may order fewer goods in the coming months. The Commerce Department says inventories rose 0.4 percent, down from a 0.7 percent increase in September and the smallest gain in four months. Sales, meanwhile, dropped 0.4 percent. Rising inventories a... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:20:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1764116-us-business-stockpiles-rise-04-percent-october.html 2012-12-13T14:20:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763850-cheaper-gas-drives-us-wholesale-price.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Cheaper gas drove down a measure of wholesale prices in November for the second straight month, a sign inflation remains mild. The producer price index fell 0.8 percent last month, the steepest drop since May, the Labor Department said Thursday. That follows a 0.2 percent decline in October. The index measures the cost of goods before th... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:12:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763850-cheaper-gas-drives-us-wholesale-price.html 2012-12-13T14:12:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763886-us-retail-sales-rose-03-percent-november.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans spent more online in November to start the holiday season and began to replace cars and rebuild in the Northeast after Superstorm Sandy. U.S. retail sales rose 0.3 percent in November from October, the Commerce Department said Thursday. That offset a 0.3 percent decline in October from September. The figures were much stronger ... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 13:43:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763886-us-retail-sales-rose-03-percent-november.html 2012-12-13T13:43:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763102-nkorea-policy-seoul-to-soften-despite-rocket.html SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — It is not too early to predict one sure winner of South Korea's presidential election next week: North Korea. President Lee Myung-bak's hardline approach to Pyongyang is going away, no matter who replaces him. The question is: Just how soft will Seoul go? Not even Pyongyang's successful launch of a long-range rocket Wednesday has... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 04:54:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763102-nkorea-policy-seoul-to-soften-despite-rocket.html 2012-12-13T04:54:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1760478-asia-stocks-up-japan-boost-weaker-yen.html BANGKOK (AP) — Asian stock markets rose Thursday as a weakening yen propelled Japan's benchmark higher. A new bond-buying program by the U.S. Federal Reserve and commitment to keep interest rates low also soothed investor nerves about the state of the world's biggest economy. Following a two-day policy meeting, the Fed said Wednesday it will keep spending... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 04:20:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1760478-asia-stocks-up-japan-boost-weaker-yen.html 2012-12-13T04:20:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1760408-budging-fiscal-cliff-talks-appear-stalled.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans aren't budging on tax rates, and Democrats are resisting steps like raising the eligibility age for Medicare. Negotiations on averting a year-end fiscal train wreck combining big automatic tax hikes and sweeping spending cuts again appear stalled. There are less than three weeks before the government could careen off this "fi... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 00:18:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1760408-budging-fiscal-cliff-talks-appear-stalled.html 2012-12-13T00:18:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1761584-fed-links-interest-rates-to-65-pct-unemployment.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve said Wednesday that it plans to keep interest rates ultra-low even after unemployment falls close to a normal level — which it thinks could take three more years. For the first time, the Fed made clear to investors and consumers that it will link its actions to specific economic markers. As long as inflation remains t... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 23:50:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1761584-fed-links-interest-rates-to-65-pct-unemployment.html 2012-12-12T23:50:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1760484-japan-election-puts-spotlight-reviving-economy.html TOKYO (AP) — It's the $6 trillion question: how to jolt Japan out of its 20-year economic slump. The dozen or so parties vying in a Dec. 16 parliamentary election all agree the world's third-largest economy needs a jump-start, now that it has slid back into recession for the fifth time in 15 years. They are at odds, however, over how t... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 23:31:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1760484-japan-election-puts-spotlight-reviving-economy.html 2012-12-12T23:31:00Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1762418-senate-dems-offer-sandy-disaster-aid-package.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats on Wednesday finished cobbling together a $60.4 billion disaster aid package for New York, New Jersey and other states hit by Superstorm Sandy in late October. Working from the emergency spending request President Barack Obama made five days ago, the Senate Appropriations Committee released its draft of the legislation. ... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 22:10:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1762418-senate-dems-offer-sandy-disaster-aid-package.html 2012-12-12T22:10:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1762490-why-its-hard-to-step-fiscal-cliff.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The "fiscal cliff" crisis bundles together some of Washington's toughest decisions — the ones lawmakers have dodged for years — and says settle them all right now. Or else. Yet bedrock differences between Democrats and Republicans stand in the way. No wonder it's hard to shake hands on a deal by New Year's. Failure is a lousy option, non... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 22:01:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1762490-why-its-hard-to-step-fiscal-cliff.html 2012-12-12T22:01:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1761858-fed-projects-high-unemployment-3-years.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve projects the unemployment rate will stay elevated until late 2015, suggesting it will keep short-term interest rates low for the next three years. The latest economic forecasts released Wednesday after the Fed's final meeting of the year were little changed from September. But they coincided with a new communication s... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 20:51:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1761858-fed-projects-high-unemployment-3-years.html 2012-12-12T20:51:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1761070-stocks-changed-fed-rally-fizzles.html NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks ended the day little changed Wednesday after a rally prompted by the Federal Reserve's latest economic stimulus program fizzled out. The Dow Jones industrial average closed down 2.99 points at 13,245.45. It had risen as much as 81 points after the Fed said earlier in the day that it would extend a bond-buying plan and keep interest ... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 20:32:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1761070-stocks-changed-fed-rally-fizzles.html 2012-12-12T20:32:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1762130-bernanke-fiscal-cliff-hurting-economy.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy is already being hurt by the "fiscal cliff" standoff in Washington, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Wednesday. But Bernanke said the Fed believes the crisis will be resolved without significant long-term damage. The steep tax increases and spending cuts can be avoided with a successful budget deal, Bernanke sa... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 20:02:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1762130-bernanke-fiscal-cliff-hurting-economy.html 2012-12-12T20:02:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1762234-egypt-political-crisis-threatens-to-worsen-economy.html CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's political crisis is threatening to plunge its ailing economy even deeper into distress after the government delayed a request for a $4.8 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund that would have eased a ballooning budget deficit and reassured foreign investors. Fear of stoking the street unrest over a disputed Islamist-oriente... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 19:45:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1762234-egypt-political-crisis-threatens-to-worsen-economy.html 2012-12-12T19:45:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1761240-oil-rises-fed-stimulus-plan.html NEW YORK (AP) — Oil traders got what they wanted Wednesday: another big move by the Federal Reserve to stimulate the slow-growing U.S. economy. The Fed said it will spend $85 billion a month to sustain an aggressive drive to keep long-term interest rates low. It also plans to keep a key short-term rate near zero until unemployment drops below 6.5 percent.... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 19:29:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1761240-oil-rises-fed-stimulus-plan.html 2012-12-12T19:29:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1761996-fiscal-cliff-threatens-federal-aid-heat.html PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Poor and elderly Americans who rely on aid from the federal government to heat their homes stand to get less help this year if Congress and the White House fail to figure out a way to avoid the combination of tax increases and automatic spending cuts known as the fiscal cliff. If that happens, there'll be an automatic 10 percent red... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 18:27:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1761996-fiscal-cliff-threatens-federal-aid-heat.html 2012-12-12T18:27:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1761852-us-budget-deficit-reaches-172b-november.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. federal government's budget deficit widened in November compared to October, a sign that the nation is on a path to its fifth straight $1 trillion-plus deficit. The budget gap rose to $172 billion in November, up from $120 billion in October, the Treasury Department said Wednesday. The November deficit was also 25 percent higher... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 18:12:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1761852-us-budget-deficit-reaches-172b-november.html 2012-12-12T18:12:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1761738-reset-fed-forges-ahead-with-easy-money-policy.html As President Barack Obama and Congress agonize over strengthening the economy without fattening the $16 trillion national debt, the Federal Reserve chugs steadily along on its own course of keeping interest rates low and printing money to stimulate growth. The central bank's impact on the economy is huge. Yet it doesn't get as much attention as the fiery ... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 17:48:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1761738-reset-fed-forges-ahead-with-easy-money-policy.html 2012-12-12T17:48:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1760412-obamas-fiscal-cliff-strategy-tricky-balance.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Playing both sides, President Barack Obama is trying to balance his public pressure campaign on Republicans over the looming "fiscal cliff" with his private negotiations with GOP leaders. The White House is loath to abandon the two-pronged strategy even as the Dec. 31 deadline nears. Obama's advisers see the carrot-and-stick approach as ... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 17:18:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1760412-obamas-fiscal-cliff-strategy-tricky-balance.html 2012-12-12T17:18:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1761138-house-gop-press-obama-balanced-fiscal-deal.html WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republican leaders are pressing President Barack Obama to come up with plan they can accept for spending cuts and tax revenue to avoid the so-called "fiscal cliff" of automatic tax hikes and budget reductions. Speaker John Boehner (BAY'-nuhr) tells reporters at a Capitol Hill news conference that he and the White House have some "s... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 14:22:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1761138-house-gop-press-obama-balanced-fiscal-deal.html 2012-12-12T14:22:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1760806-us-stock-futures-rise-fed-anticipation.html NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock futures are edging higher as investors await news on whether the Federal Reserve will announce a new stimulus plan to boost the U.S. economy. Dow futures are up 13 points to 13,291. The broader S&P 500 futures are up 1.5 points to 1,433. Nasdaq futures are up 4.5 points to 2,690. The Fed is widely expected to announce a new bond... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 11:19:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1760806-us-stock-futures-rise-fed-anticipation.html 2012-12-12T11:19:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1760534-bank-aid-money-arrives-spain.html MADRID (AP) — The Spanish government said Wednesday that the €39.5 billion ($51.3 billion) in bailout funds approved by European authorities for the country's troubled banks has arrived. A spokeswoman for the Economy Ministry said the money is now in the hands of a state-run fund set up to help those banks worst hit by the property market collapse in 200... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 10:49:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1760534-bank-aid-money-arrives-spain.html 2012-12-12T10:49:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1760256-fed-expected-to-revamp-bond-buying-program.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve is wrapping up 2012 the way it began the year, searching for ways to help a U.S. economy that is still struggling with high unemployment and sub-par growth. The expectation is that the Fed will announce a revamped bond-buying plan at the conclusion of their second day of discussions on Wednesday. The Fed's policy stat... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 10:30:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1760256-fed-expected-to-revamp-bond-buying-program.html 2012-12-12T10:30:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1760704-us-economy-withstand-fall-cliff.html WASHINGTON (AP) — It's the scenario that's been spooking employers and investors and slowing the U.S. economy: Congress and the White House fail to strike a budget deal by New Year's Day. Their stalemate triggers sharp tax increases and spending cuts. Those measures shrink consumer spending, stifle job growth, topple stock prices and push the economy off ... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 10:18:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1760704-us-economy-withstand-fall-cliff.html 2012-12-12T10:18:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1759738-cliff-movement-obama-boehner-trade-proposals.html WASHINGTON (AP) — In a test of divided government, President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner sought an elusive compromise Tuesday to prevent economy-damaging tax increases on the middle class at year's end, conferring by phone after a secretive exchange of proposals. Details were sparse and evidence of significant progress scarcer still, altho... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 01:41:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1759738-cliff-movement-obama-boehner-trade-proposals.html 2012-12-12T01:41:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1758366-fiscal-cliff-private-bargaining-public-wrangling.html WASHINGTON (AP) — In a test of divided government, the White House and congressional Republicans bargained in secret and sparred in public Tuesday over a deal to prevent year-end tax increases for middle class millions and spending cuts to the military as well as other federal programs. Officials disclosed that President Barack Obama and House Speaker Joh... Tue, 11 Dec 2012 21:35:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1758366-fiscal-cliff-private-bargaining-public-wrangling.html 2012-12-11T21:35:00Z