All The New Economy
US job openings highest since 2001, but hiring slipsUS job openings reached 4.84 million in August, according to the Labor Department's Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). It was the highest number of openings since 2001, the year the government began tracking JOLTS data.
Unemployment hits a six-year low at 5.9 percent. Can wages catch up?The US economy added 248,000 jobs in September and pushed the unemployment rate down to 5.9 percent in an unexpectedly strong report. But despite steady improvements on the unemployment front, low labor force participation and slow wage growth remain a worry for the economy going forward.
Home prices rise at slowest pace in two years. Why that’s good news.Home prices across the country’s major cities grew at their slowest pace in nearly two years in July, according Case-Shiller's 10- and 20-city home price indices. But for couples with an improving job market, the home price slowdown could help ramp up home purchases later in the year.
Forbes 400: Bill, Warren, and the richest Americans are $270 billion richerForbes' annual list of the 400 richest Americans, released Monday, held a combined net worth of $2.29 trillion, up $270 billion from a year ago. Bill Gates topped the Forbes 400 for the 21st straight year, followed by Warren Buffett and Larry Ellison.
US GDP grew at 4.6 percent from April to June, more than previously thoughtThe US economy grew at a 4.6 percent annualized pace from April to June of this year, more than economists had previously estimated. It was the fastest growth rate since the fourth quarter of 2011 and further reassurance that the economy has rallied back nicely from an early stumble.
New home sales surge to six-year high, renewing hope for the marketNew home sales jumped an unexpected 18 percent in August, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. Coming off the heels of a disappointing report for existing home sales, the robust new home sales report eased fears that the housing market is headed in the wrong direction.
Existing home sales fall in August: a tale of two housing marketsExisting home sales fell 1.8 percent as investors and cash buyers pulled away from the housing market. But August's existing home sales data had a silver lining: families are wading back into home ownership, albeit slowly.
- Video: Buying the iPhone 6 after sleeping in a garbage bag
Filmmaker Casey Neistat captures Chinese resellers in New York City waiting, buying, and hawking the iPhone 6.
Household net worth in the US hits a new record, but the wealthy reap the benefitsHousehold net worth has reached its highest in history, fueled by rising stock and housing prices. But with income and wealth inequality widening, most of the gains are still benefitting the wealthy.
Fed holds off, but consumers should still prepare for interest rate hikesThe Federal Reserve held steady on interest rates Wednesday, but consumers can go ahead and take steps to prepared for the eventual, inevitable rate hike. As expected, the Fed tapered its monthly bond buying another $15 billion, staying on track to end the program in October.
Retail sales bounce back in August. Why consumers are feeling confident.Retail sales grew 0.6 percent in August, hitting a four-month high as consumers grew more confident about the direction the economy is headed. A strong month for the auto industry led retail sales in August, with furniture, building materials, ad electronics also performing well.
iWatch from Apple may mean the end of plastic credit cardsApple is expected to announce a new iWatch this week, and along with it new mobile payment platform that would be cheaper and easier to use than today's credit-card system. Apple's agreements with MasterCard, Visa, and American Express would allow the iWatch platform to spread quickly.
US jobs report for August is worst in eight months. That's not the problem.The US economy added 142,000 jobs in August, coming in well below expectations, and representing the smallest gain eight months. But while the weak jobs report may be a blip, the bigger issue, analysts say, is whether or not the slow growth in wages is holding the US economy back.
Home prices on S&P/Case-Shiller index dip in June. That's a good thing.Home prices dipped slightly in June and growth slowed year-over-year, according to S&P/Case-Shiller's 20-city composite index. But according to analysts, a home prices slowdown could help bring the housing market more in line with the rest of the economy.
Why one-third of Americans aren't saving for retirementMore than a third of US adults haven't started saving for retirement, according to a recent survey from Bankrate. Retirement saving is a low priority for many Americans as the cost of living rises and more families live paycheck to paycheck.
Retail sales for July the worst in six months. Bad sign for the rest of the year?Retail sales fell flat in July, according to data released Wednesday by the US Commerce Department. If the retail sales trend continues, some experts say, we may have to lower our expectations for economic growth in 2014.
Productivity rises to 2.5 percent in second quarter. Good, but 'could have been better'Productivity of American workers grew to an annualized 2.5 percent, more than most economists expected, according to data released Friday by the BLS. The increase in productivity is a good sign for the US economy.
Want work-life balance? Move to one of these cities.Achieving a true work-life balance may seem not realistic, but several US cities boast a short work day, a even shorter commute, and low monthly rent. The top city for work-life balance, according to NerdWallet, is Bloomington, Ind. where employees work an average of 31.9 hours a week.
Russian hackers have stolen over 1.2 billion passwords, but Americans are on alertRevelations that Russian hackers have stolen 1.2 billion user names and passwords are only the latest in a series of identity theft attacks that are causing US consumers to change their shopping habits. Some are scaling back online purchases, especially at stores known to have had a data breach.
Economy adds 209,000 jobs in July. Is Wall Street growing frustrated?The US economy added 209,000 jobs in July, fewer than analysts expected, and the unemployment rate ticked up to 6.2 percent. The July jobs report marked the sixth straight month of more than 200,000 added jobs, but there are signs that growth might be slowing.
