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Economic outlook

Report: US job market looks surprisingly strong
The U.S. job market is proving surprisingly strong and raising hopes that the economy will be resilient enough this year to withstand a budget ...
Measure of US manufacturing jumps in December
U.S. manufacturing activity grew at a faster pace in January, driven by an increase in new orders and more hiring at factories. The Institute for ...
Solid Jan. hiring would boost hopes for US economy
The January employment report is expected to show Friday that job growth remained steady last month even though Americans began receiving smaller ...
US consumer spending up slight 0.2 percent
U.S. consumers increased their spending in December at a slower pace, while their income grew by the largest amount in eight years. Income surged ...
Weekly US jobless aid applications rise to 368K
The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid rose sharply last week but remained at a level consistent with moderate hiring. Weekly applications ...
Fed's new voting lineup won't likely alter policy
The cast of voting members on the Federal Reserve's policy committee is changing this year. Their policies probably won't be. Chairman Ben Bernanke ...
Slow US economic growth in Q4 may hide strength
Most economists agree that Wednesday's snapshot of U.S. economic growth is going to look dismal. The consensus forecast from Factset is economic ...
Stocks advance, pushing Dow toward 14,000
Pfizer helped keep the stock market rally alive Tuesday. The drugmaker's stock gained after posting strong earnings, pushing the Dow closer to 14,000.
US consumers less optimistic after tax increase
An increase in Social Security taxes is leaving Americans with less take-home pay — and a more negative outlook for the U.S. economy. The Conference ...
Fed likely to stick to low-rate message this week
When the Federal Reserve meets this week, it's likely to affirm a message it intends to help lift the economy: that consumers and businesses will be ...
Study finds improvement in German consumer mood
A closely-watched survey shows German consumers are more optimistic, buoyed by the current calm in financial markets and expectations the economy will ...
US home prices accelerate in November
U.S. home prices accelerated in November compared with a year ago, pushed higher by rising sales and a tighter supply of available homes. The Standard ...
US economy gets lift from housing, other tailwinds
The U.S. economy is a study in contrasts. The housing, banking and auto industries are surging back to health and that has helped push the stock ...
Economists growing more upbeat about year ahead
Economists are increasingly, but still cautiously, optimistic about growth in the year ahead with the hiring expected to pick up in coming months.
US durable goods orders rise 4.6 pct. on aircraft
U.S. demand for long-lasting manufactured goods rose sharply in December on strong gains in volatile aircraft orders. But companies slowed their ...
Japan raises growth forecast as yen slides
Anticipating a boost from stimulus spending and a weakening yen, Japan's government on Monday raised its growth forecast, predicting the economy will ...
Economist: Euro crisis could erupt again this year
Is the euro crisis over? A leading U.S. economist says not by a long shot. Even as the head of the European Central Bank talked Friday of "positive ...
SKorea's economy grows at slowest pace in 3 years
South Korea's economy grew 2 percent in 2012, its weakest performance in three years, and is not expected to rebound strongly this year, the central ...
Oil drops 1.5 percent; gains could be tapering off
Oil declined the most this year Wednesday on reports that the amount of oil moving through a key pipeline to the Gulf Coast had been cut in half.
IMF sees modest 2013 improvement for world economy
The International Monetary Fund is projecting a modest rise in global economic growth for 2013, but also warning that problems in the eurozone and the ...
Growth slows, markets feeling good ahead of Davos
The world's financial and political elite will head this week to the Alps for 2013's gathering of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, with ...
Transcripts show Fed underestimated crisis in 2007
Federal Reserve officials in 2007 badly underestimated the scope of the approaching financial crisis and how it would tip the U.S. economy into the ...
IMF's Lagarde sees improved world economic outlook
International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde said Thursday that the threat of financial collapse in the global economy appears to have eased.
Germany more than halves 2013 growth forecast
The German government on Wednesday more than halved its economic growth forecast for this year to just 0.4 percent, evidence that the financial crisis ...
German economy shrank in Q4 in face of euro crisis
Germany's economy has fallen victim to economic problems hitting the rest of the eurozone and shrank in the fourth quarter of 2012, preliminary ...