All The New Economy
US retail sales fall 0.6 percent as winter worries lingerRetail sales fell unexpectedly for the third straight month in February, according to the Commerce Department. February brought plunging temperatures and record snowfall to much of the US, and such conditions can be a particular drag on big-ticket retail purchases like cars and furniture.
US economy added 295,000 jobs in February. What winter?The US economy added 295,000 jobs in February, ticking unemployment down to 5.5 percent, according to the Labor Department. Many expected a harsh winter to to have more of an effect on employment, but the jobless rate is now at its lowest level in seven years.
Corporate tax reform will hurt small business, unless ...Corporate tax reform will pose a big problem for America's small businesses unless Congress tackles the 'pass-through' problem. By letting firms deduct dividends distributions, lawmakers could erase many of the tax complications business owners currently face.
New homes sales hold steady despite winter swoon in the NortheastNew home sales in the US fell 0.2 percent in January to a 481,000 annual pace, according to the Commerce Department. Even with the drop, it was the best January for new home sales since 2008, and the pace of sales remained near post-recession highs.
Home prices accelerate nationwide, fueling affordability concernsHome prices posted a 4.5 percent year-over-year increase in December, according to the monthly S&P/Case Shiller index of property values. Housing market affordability has proven a concern for Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, who began a two-day series of testimonies before Congress Tuesday.
Existing home sales fall to 9-month low in January, but market isn't 'hopeless'Existing home sales fell 4.9 percent to a 4.82 million annualized pace in January, the National Association of Realtors reported Monday. Despite some worrying early results, there are hints that existing home sales could bounce back in the coming months.
Retail sales fall again. Why aren’t Americans spending money?Retail sales in the US fell an unexpected 0.8 percent in January, despite a surging job market and much lower costs for consumers. Experts say Americans may be using that extra cash to save or pay down debt, but retail sales should bounce back in the coming months.
Unemployment rate rises to 5.7 percent. That's great news.The US economy added a surprising 257,000 jobs in January, but the unemployment rate increased 5.7 percent. The unemployment rate increase is good news, because it means more Americans are upbeat about their job prospects and beginning to look for work.
Why is Snapchat moving into the news business?Photo and video sharing application Snapchat is diving head first into the news business with a new approach. Will it work?
Consumer confidence and home sales surge, hinting at a big 2015 for housingNew home sales surged 11.6 percent last month to an annualized pace of 481,000, and consumer confidence blew past expectations in January, according to Tuesday reports. After a lackluster 2014, signs are mounting that 2015 could be a year of huge improvement for the housing market.
At Davos, rising income inequality worries some billionaires tooSome 2,500 of the world's elite descended upon Davos, Switzerland for the 45th World Economic Forum. What was on their minds?
Existing home sales rebound, but first-time buyers face obstaclesExisting home sales rose 2.4 percent in December, but the share of first-time homebuyers remained worryingly low. Even as sales rise, constraints on affordability could prompt fundamental changes in the housing market as a whole.
Is your spouse hiding money from you? New study says it’s likely.Research has found that millions of Americans keep secret funds and make purchases behind their partners’ backs.
Why your Facebook profile may be more important than your credit scoreThe new mobile app Lenddo mines data from social media profiles, including Facebook, to assess one's credit worthiness. Is this the future of finance?
Consumer prices drop the most in six years. They aren't finished.The consumer price index (CPI) fell 0.4 percent last month, its biggest slide since 2008, thanks largely to falling gas prices. But with the dollar strengthening, wages rising, and gas prices projected to fall even more, experts say this may be the start of a much larger swoon in consumer prices.
Job openings hit 14-year high; small business cheers the economySmall business optimism rose to an eight-year high in December, according to the NFIB's monthly index. and US job openings have hit their highest number since 2001. Small businesses reported plans to hire more, spend more, and boost wages.
Looking for a new job? Move here.The US job market has improved, but some parts of the country are much, much better than others for prospective job seekers, according to a new study. Texas cities dominate the list of the best US cities for job seekers in 2015, but a university town in the Midwest came out on top.
Why Tiffany is now advertising to same-sex couplesAs American support for same-sex marriage grows, companies feel more comfortable targeting advertising to these customers.
US economy adds 252,000 jobs in December, but wage dip disappointsThe US economy added 252,000 jobs in December, ticking the unemployment rate down to 5.6 percent – the lowest since 2008. But it wasn't all good news for US workers, as wage growth and labor force participation took a step back. Is 2015 the year the job market finally gets to full strength?
Outlook for tax reform surprisingly upbeat in 2015The 4,029-page tax code is so complex both parties want to revise it. On business tax reform, they share surprising common ground, raising the potential for partial tax reform to be enacted this year.
