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Economic outlook

Oil down to near $85 after weak US jobs figures
Oil fell below $86 a barrel Friday as concerns over the global economy dominated trading. Weak U.S. employment figures added to those concerns, a day ...
US hiring likely improved only modestly in June
Hiring likely picked up slightly in June after sputtering in April and May. But the gains aren't expected to be enough to lower the unemployment rate.
US hiring outlook improves, but economy still weak
The outlook for the U.S. job market brightened a little Thursday after the government said fewer people applied for unemployment benefits last week ...
After weak June, retailers to sweat out summer
Retailers could be sweating it out this summer. Shoppers, worried about jobs and the economy, pulled back on spending in June, slowing sales for most ...
European Central Bank cuts rates to new low
The European Central Bank cut its benchmark interest rate to a record low Thursday to spark economic growth but gave little sign it would take further ...
ECB chief Draghi's policy statement
Below is the text of the statement made by European Central Bank President Mario Draghi at a press conference in Frankfurt on Thursday. The bank cut ...
AP survey: Next president faces high unemployment
A majority of economists in the latest Associated Press Economy Survey expect the national unemployment rate to stay above 6 percent — the upper ...
Asian stocks gain ahead of central bank meetings
Asian stock markets were boosted Wednesday by hopes European central bankers will buoy economic growth with new stimulus measures. Global equities and ...
ECB to trim interest rates, but no more
Europe's sinking economy and wobbly banks could get modest help Thursday from an interest rate cut by the European Central Bank. Economists think the ...
Survey finds Japan business confidence improves
Big manufacturers have more confidence in Japan's economy but remain pessimistic overall, a closely watched quarterly survey by the country's central ...
A weaker German economy could further slow Europe
For Germany, the crisis gripping Europe can feel like someone else's problem. Its economy is growing. Unemployment is low. And its government can ...
Tepid economic growth weighs on US job market
The U.S. economy is growing too slowly to pull the job market out of a slump, according to the latest data that suggest June has been another weak ...
Oil slips drop to $80 on doubts about EU summit
Oil slipped to near $80 a barrel Thursday as markets remained on edge ahead of a meeting of European Union leaders that's meant to find solutions to ...
Spain's banks, government co-dependent on debt
The Spanish government and Spanish banks are perilously co-dependent. The financial strength of one hinges on the other, and right now both are ...
Poll: Half doubt next president will alter economy
When it comes to the economy, half of Americans in a new poll say it won't matter much whether Barack Obama or Mitt Romney wins — even though the ...
Oil slips below $79 on Europe's economic woes
The price of oil fell below $79 a barrel Monday due to concerns over Europe's economic and financial woes. The drop was limited somewhat by a supply ...
Oil near $79 as Europe woes offset supply threat
Oil fell to near $79 a barrel Monday in Asia as Europe's economic woes offset a supply disruption from a storm that shut down about a quarter of crude ...
Fed message: Economy unlikely to improve this year
The economy we've got today is more or less the economy we've got for the rest of the year. That's the message from the Federal Reserve, which has ...
Fed's latest action doesn't impress investors
It's going to take more than low interest rates to fire up investors. The Federal Reserve's latest plan to help the economy failed to impress Wall ...
Procter & Gamble cuts 4Q profit, revenue outlook
Procter & Gamble Co. on Wednesday lowered its fourth-quarter earnings and revenue forecasts, the latest company to sound warning bells about slowing ...
Investors hoping for Fed action to boost economy
The Federal Reserve, meeting at a time of heightened uncertainty, is expected to provide further support for a slumping U.S. economy. But there is no ...
Why stocks may be even riskier than you think
Job growth in the United States is slowing. Sales at stores have stopped growing. The economies of India, Brazil and China are cooling. Europe is ...
Accounting for natural wealth gains world traction
What is a sip of clean water worth? Is there economic value in the shade of a tree? And how much would you pay for a breath of fresh air? Putting a ...
Low prices, weak hiring raise odds of Fed action
The U.S. job market is flagging, and consumer prices are barely rising. The picture sketched by data released Thursday has made some economists ...
Lower gas prices not enough to lift US economy
Cheaper gas has yet to cause consumers to spend enough on other goods to boost the slumping economy. Americans barely increased their spending at ...