In other economic news: •Retail sales slip again. The Commerce Department said retail sales dipped 1.1 percent in March. It was the biggest decline in three months and a much weaker showing than the 0.3 percent increase that analysts expected. A big drop in auto sales led the overall slump in demand. Auto sales in March were 23.5 percent below year-ago levels. Sales also plunged at clothing stores, appliance outlets and furniture stores. ...more

April 15, 2009

It may seem like the country that used to make everything is on the brink of making nothing. ...more

February 26, 2009

Inflation at the wholesale level surged unexpectedly in January, reflecting sharply higher prices for gasoline and other energy products. ...more

February 20, 2009

It's frustrating enough when gas prices soar due to the unseen forces of global supply and demand. But it's downright unfair when Wall Street speculators contribute to rising prices at the pump. ...more

June 13, 2008

Consumers battered by a slumping housing market and a credit crunch slowed the growth in spending to the smallest amount in four months. In another sign of weakness, construction activity fell by a larger-than-expected amount. ...more

December 1, 2007