State adds jobs in February at healthy clip
Hiring surged in several sectors of the economy, but the unemployment rate inched higher as more residents started looking for work.
Economy
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Higher payroll taxes take toll on restaurants
So far, 2013 has been “a roller coaster ride” for Indiana eateries, according the state trade association’s president. Industry observers say a 2-percent increase in the payroll tax is a likely culprit in a nationwide sales decline.
Unemployment falls to 7.7 percent, as U.S. adds 236,000 jobs
Stronger hiring shows businesses are confident about the economy, despite higher taxes and government spending cuts. However, more than 130,000 people left the work force in February.
U.S. economy adds jobs, but unemployment rate rises
U.S. employers added 157,000 jobs in January, but the unemployment rate rose to 7.9 percent, up from 7.8 percent in December.
Economist: Quarterly report shows recession is here
Ball State University economist Mike Hicks said the quarterly contraction in the economy only confirms his fears that the United States is already in another recession.
U.S. unemployment rate remains at 7.8 percent
U.S. employers added 155,000 jobs in December, a steady gain that shows hiring held up during the tense negotiations to resolve the fiscal cliff.
Cliff avoided: Congress staves off tax hikes
Past its own New Year's deadline, a weary Congress sent President Barack Obama legislation to avoid a national "fiscal cliff" of middle class tax increases and spending cuts late Tuesday night in the culmination of a struggle that strained America's divided government to the limit.
Analysis: Ordinary folks are losing interest in stocks
Defying decades of investment history, ordinary Americans spooked by the Great Recession have been selling more stocks than they’ve been buying. The selling has not let up despite unprecedented measures by the Federal Reserve to persuade people to buy and the come-hither allure of a levitating market.
REWIND: IBJ’s top 10 business stories of 2012
The state's labor landscape changed, and the housing market improved. Indianapolis basked in the glow of a flawless Super Bowl, and big-name CEOs were shown the door. IBJ's reporters and editors recall the year's biggest stories.
Holiday retail sales growth weakest since 2008
Shoppers were buffeted this year by a string of events that made them less likely to spend. The numbers also show how Washington’s current budget impasse is trickling down to Main Street and unsettling consumers.
Stocks tumble after GOP cancels ‘fiscal cliff’ vote
House Speaker John Boehner scrapped a vote on his so-called “Plan B” on Thursday night after it became clear that it did not have enough support in the Republican-led House to secure passage.
U.S. economy grew at 3.1 percent in summer
Exports increased, consumers spent more and state and local governments added to growth for the first time in three years. But the economy is likely slowing in the current quarter.
U.S. economy adds 146,000 jobs as unemployment rate slips
The Labor Department’s report Friday offered a mixed picture of the economy. Hiring remained steady during November in the face of looming tax increases. But the jobless rate slipped in part because more people stopped looking for work.
Items in ’12 Days of Christmas’ increase to $107,000
If you get buy all 364 items repeated throughout “The Twelve Days of Christmas” carol, you’ll pay 6.1 percent more this year, according to the so-called Christmas Price Index that PNC Wealth Management updates annually.
State’s unemployment rate drops to 8 percent
Indiana added 7,700 private-sector jobs in October, marking the largest monthly gain since May, as the unemployment rate fell for the second straight month.
Study: Indiana’s airports contribute $14.1B in economic output
A new study says the state’s 69 public airports support more than 69,000 jobs–about 30 percent of which are tied to Indianapolis International Airport.
IU: Growth of Indiana’s labor force slowing rapidly
The Indiana Business Research Center attributes the predicted slowdown during the next 30 years to an increasing number of baby boomers entering retirement and a cresting of the decades-long rise in female labor force participation.
Indiana casino cuts 80 jobs, blames economy
A northwestern Indiana casino is blaming the economy and increased competition for its decision to lay off about 80 workers.
U.S. jobless benefit applications fall slightly
The number of people seeking unemployment benefits fell last week by 8,000, but the figures were distorted by Superstorm Sandy. The four-week average of applications, a less volatile measure, rose by 3,250.
Stocks plunge after election, and as Europe woes deepen
The Dow Jones industrial average plummeted as much as 369 points, or 2.8 percent, in the first two hours of trading. It recovered steadily in the afternoon, but slid into the close and ended down 313, its biggest point drop since this time last year.