As a global recession looms, what better way to cope than to eat, drink and be merry? ...more

August 14, 2008

The U.S. trade deficit has gone on a diet, helped by strong exports of farm products and manufactured goods and by Americans spending less as the economy limps along. ...more

August 13, 2008

Just for a minute let's set aside all the bad things plaguing the financial world. Even in these gloomy times, there's some good news worth checking out. ...more

July 31, 2008

Christmas in July? Maybe not a bad idea this year. Retailers are already talking about price increases of up to 15 percent this year on holiday goods, from staples like tree ornaments and toys to luxury gifts like European handbags and clothing. The main cause? It's the same old chestnut, soaring energy prices. ...more

July 31, 2008

I never thought I'd have to come to this, defending Phil Gramm on anything. ...more

July 21, 2008

Worried about rising inflation, Federal Reserve officials at their meeting in June thought the Fed's next move on interest rates was likely to be up. ...more

July 17, 2008

President Bush lifted nearly two decades of executive orders banning drilling for oil and natural gas off the country's shoreline on Monday while challenging Congress to open more areas for exploration to address soaring energy prices. ...more

July 15, 2008

The stimulus checks are working. A big increase in retail sales signaled that people are spending their rebate payments, helping to ward off a serious economic slump, at least for now. ...more

June 13, 2008

The three biggest U.S. carriers said Thursday they have again raised ticket prices, this time by $20 roundtrip, to offset rapidly rising fuel costs. ...more

May 9, 2008

The worst of the credit crisis may have passed, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said Wednesday, while acknowledging that rising gas prices will blunt the effect of 130 million economic stimulus checks. He ruled out a second stimulus package for now. ...more

May 8, 2008