Economy ends 2015 on better note, starts 2016 with bang
Economic growth in the final three months of 2015 didn’t slow as much as previously estimated, and consumers roared back to life in January, spending at the fastest clip in eight months.
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AP Poll: Social Security, joblessness top economic concerns
While Americans of all stripes consistently put the economy at or near the top of their lists of most important issues, they may have very different concerns in mind when they do so.
Carrier plant closing shows vagaries of modern manufacturing
The Indianapolis HVAC plant had taken numerous steps to improve efficiency, but they weren't enough to overcome the labor savings that go with shifting the work to Mexico.
U.S. retail sales move in opposite direction from stocks
A key question for the economy this year is whether consumer spending can keep growing and offset the impacts of stock market volatility and slowing growth overseas.
January jobs report filled with positive economic news
Employers raised pay, more people felt confident enough to look for work, and the unemployment rate dipped to 4.9 percent, its lowest level since 2008.
U.S. economic growth slows to crawl in fourth quarter
Much of the weakness last quarter reflected a slowdown in consumer spending, which grew at an annual rate of just 2.2 percent, compared with a 3 percent rate in the previous quarter.
U.S. industrial production declined again in December
American industry is struggling even as the overall economy appears solid. In December, utilities reduced output amid unusually warm weather and energy firms cut back in the face of falling oil prices.
U.S. adds 292K jobs; unemployment rate holds steady
American employers added a robust 292,000 jobs in December, suggesting that the U.S. economy is so far defying global weakness and growing solidly.
U.S. jobless claims increase to highest level since July
The number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits rose more than projected during the Christmas week.
U.S. consumer confidence rises more than expected
Consumer confidence rebounded more than forecast in December as Americans grew more optimistic about the current state of the economy and job market.
U.S. industrial production registers worst month since 2012
U.S. industrial output fell for the third straight month in November, another sign that American manufacturers are under stress.
Economists trim 2016 forecast, but expect higher pay
The National Association for Business Economics says the average forecast is for growth of 2.6 percent next year, down slightly from 2.7 percent in its previous survey conducted in September.
U.S. productivity grows at 2.2 percent rate
U.S. productivity this summer grew at a faster rate than first thought, though it still lagged the pace set in the spring. Labor costs were also revised up.
U.S. consumer confidence index takes big monthly fall
A business research group said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index fell to 90.4 in November, down from 99.1 in October. The index is at its lowest level since September 2014.
Business survey finds companies expecting to boost hiring
A survey of 500 chief financial officers at U.S. companies released Tuesday found them optimistic about the American economy, with more than half of them expecting to hire additional employees next year.
IU panel pessimistic about 2016 economy
Real output growth in 2016 will average about 2.5 percent, which will be a little better than this year, but only equal to 2014, according to the forecast from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business.
U.S. paycheck increases remain on sluggish pace
In the past 12 months, pay and benefits have risen just 2 percent. That's below the 3.5 percent to 4 percent typical of a healthy economy.
Consumer spending records weakest gain in 8 months
Much of the September slowdown reflected a fall in energy prices, which resulted in a 1.2 percent drop in spending on nondurable goods such as gasoline.
U.S. economy grew at 1.5 percent rate in fourth quarter
The U.S. economy slowed sharply in the summer, reflecting a cutback in businesses' stockpiling of goods, which offset solid consumer spending.
Forecast for 2016: Strategist says slow economic growth ahead
If the U.S. economy were a compact car, it would be running on just three of four cylinders. That was the central message of a Fifth Third Bank expert at IBJ's 2016 Economic Forecast on Wednesday.