Employers added 339,000 jobs in May, strong growth that defied headwinds
The May jobs report reveals the 29th straight month of strong job growth that has come to define the pandemic recovery economy.
The May jobs report reveals the 29th straight month of strong job growth that has come to define the pandemic recovery economy.
Macy’s is being swept up in a broader pullback in retail spending as consumers feel squeezed by rising prices and higher interest rates.
The hard-fought deal to avoid a default crisis pleased few, but lawmakers assessed it was better than the alternative—a major economic upheaval if Congress failed to act.
Leading Federal Reserve officials are sending out stronger signals that they will forego an increase at the central bank’s next meeting, though they indicate hikes could resume later this year.
The resilience of the American labor market continues to complicate the Federal Reserve’s efforts to fight inflation.
Consumer confidence fell in May as Americans became more pessimistic about the labor market, on top of elevated anxiety over inflation.
The bill faces a tricky path to final passage, which must happen by June 5, when the federal government will exhaust funding to pay its bills.
Friday’s report from the government showed that despite rising prices, consumers remain willing to spend.
Economists now see a sharper decline in private investment in the second half of the year than previously projected.
Since the pandemic purge of millions of jobs three years ago, the U.S. economy has added jobs at a breakneck pace and Americans have enjoyed unusual job security.
Walmart reported strong first-quarter sales results as the nation’s largest retailer’s pledge of lower prices continues to draw budget-conscious consumers.
The stubbornness of high inflation is dividing the Federal Reserve over how to manage interest rates, leaving the outlook for the Fed’s policies cloudier than at any time since it unleashed a streak of 10 straight rate hikes.
Consumers are facing plenty of challenges heading into the second half of the year from tightening credit to a weaker job market.
Applications for unemployment benefits climbed to a more than one-year high and wholesale inflation continued to moderate, adding to signs of softening in the economy.
The nation’s inflation rate has steadily cooled since peaking at 9.1% last June but remains far above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target rate.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s comments added even more urgency to a high-stakes meeting Tuesday between President Joe Biden and congressional leaders from both parties.
April’s hiring gain compares with 165,000 in March and 248,000 in February and is still at a level considered vigorous by historical standards.
Quarterly productivity figures are extremely volatile, but if the latest decline is sustained, it risks keeping inflationary pressures elevated.
The White House Council of Economic Advisers compared the potential economic impact of a debt ceiling breach to the 2008 Great Recession, in which economic growth contracts sharply and unemployment surges.
The Federal Reserve said it will consider a range of factors in “determining the extent” to which future hikes might be needed.