More Americans unexpectedly signed contracts in August to purchase previously owned homes as mounting foreclosures pushed down prices, making homes more affordable. ...more

October 9, 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Dusting off Depression-era emergency powers, the Federal Reserve is extending its reach over the economy as never before, pushing the limits of its authority, if not exceeding them. ...more

October 7, 2008

For a sign of just how tough the job market has become, consider this: In Hillsborough County, unemployment compensation claims are up 70 percent this year over last year. ...more

October 4, 2008

The fallout from the vote against a bailout package for the U.S. financial system may well dig deep into the economy. ...more

September 30, 2008

New claims for unemployment benefits jumped last week to their highest level in seven years because of the impact of a slowing economy and Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, the Labor Department reported Thursday. ...more

September 26, 2008

The evidence is mounting that Tampa Bay home sales have hit bottom, even though prices are still in a free fall. ...more

September 25, 2008

Holiday sales are expected to grow at the slowest pace in six years as shoppers worry about jobs, the housing and stock markets and high gas and food prices, according to a forecast from the National Retail Federation being released Tuesday. ...more

September 23, 2008

Wall Street turmoil left John McCain defending his support for privately investing Social Security money in the same markets that had tanked earlier in the week. ...more

September 20, 2008

The flow of money through critical parts of the financial system all but stopped Wednesday, prompting the stock market to plunge again as banks lost faith in one another and investors rushed to U.S. government securities to protect their savings. ...more

September 18, 2008

Unemployment is at a five-year high. Financial firms that withstood the Great Depression are failing. Congress and a lame-duck president are gridlocked. So when John McCain declared that "the fundamentals of our economy are strong," it drew ridicule from Democrat Barack Obama. ...more

September 17, 2008