Unemployment claims climb to 286,000, the most since October

Jobless claims rose for the third straight week — by 55,000 to 286,000, highest since mid-October, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

Retail sales drop 1.9% in December following early holiday rush

Americans sharply cut their spending in December after a burst of early spending in the fall that helped bolster the holiday season.

Inflation surges in December to highest rate since 1982

Prices paid by U.S. consumers jumped 7% in December from a year earlier, the highest inflation rate since 1982 and the latest evidence that rising costs for food, rent and other necessities are heightening the financial pressures on America's households.

$29,000 for an average used car? Would-be buyers are aghast

The days when just about anyone with a steady income could wander onto an auto lot and snag a reliable late-model car or buy their kid’s first vehicle for a few thousand dollars have essentially vanished. “I’ve never seen anything remotely close to this — it’s craziness.”

Debt ceiling: Biden signs fast-track plan to prevent default

The Senate approved a bill that will clear the way for Congress to raise the debt ceiling with a simple-majority vote before the projected Dec. 15 deadline.

US consumer inflation rate up 6.8% in past year, highest since 1982

Prices for U.S. consumers jumped 6.8% in November compared with a year earlier, the highest annual inflation rate in 39 years.

US jobless claims hit lowest level in 52 years amid seasonal volatility

U.S. unemployment claims dropped to 184,000 last week, the lowest since September 1969 — offering more evidence that the job market is recovering.

Debt ceiling: House passes bill paving way for increase ahead of deadline

The House passed a bill that will allow the Senate to raise the U.S. debt limit with a Democrats’ only majority vote, as the deadline draws near.

Treasury targets all-cash real estate deals in anti-corruption effort

The Treasury Department may expand reporting requirements on all-cash real estate deals to help crackdown on bad actors' use of the U.S. market to launder money made through illicit activity.

November jobs report: US employers added a sluggish 210,000 jobs

U.S. employers slowed the pace of their hiring in November, adding 210,000 jobs, as the economy contends with inflation and shortages.

US unemployment claims rise by 28,000, but still low at 222,000

U.S. unemployment claims climbed by 28,000 last week to 222,000, even though the U.S. job market has been rebounding from the coronavirus recession.

Powell says Federal Reserve may accelerate pullback in economic support

Chair Jerome Powell said that the Federal Reserve will consider acting more quickly to dial back its ultra-low-interest rate policies to counter higher inflation.

Biden to discuss plans to alleviate supply chain woes, inflation ahead of holidays

Rising inflation is leading to price increases for millions around the world, forcing people to choose between digging deeper into their pockets or tightening their belts.

Unemployment benefits claims hit 52-year low after seasonal adjustments

Seasonal adjustments around the Thanksgiving holiday contributed significantly to the bigger-than-expected drop. Unadjusted, claims actually ticked up by more than 18,000 to nearly 259,000.

US unemployment claims drop seventh straight week to 268,000

U.S. jobless claims dipped by 1,000 last week from the week before to a pandemic low of 268,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

Target, Walmart say holiday inventory is up despite supply chain disruptions

Target and Walmart say they are kicking off the holiday season with stocked shelves despite the industry's battle with supply chains and shipping backlogs.

US inflation: Economists explain why consumer prices are rising

For months, many economists had sounded a reassuring message that a spike in consumer prices, something that had been missing in action in the U.S. for a generation, wouldn’t stay long.