Federal Reserve

By Jason Lange WASHINGTON, Aug 23 -- The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits unexpectedly rose last week, suggesting that the labor market is healing too slowly to make much of a dent in the unemployment rate. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose 4,000 to a ...

By Paul Wiseman WASHINGTON -- The number of people applying for U.S. unemployment benefits fell last week, suggesting modest job growth after three months of weak hiring. The Labor Department said Thursday that applications for weekly benefits dropped by 12,000 to a seasonally adjusted 377,000. That's ...

By Martin Crutsinger WASHINGTON -- Chairman Ben Bernanke says the U.S. job market remains weak despite three months of strong hiring and that the Federal Reserve's existing policies will help boost growth. ...

By Martin Crutsinger WASHINGTON -- As college courses go, the name - "Reflections on the Federal Reserve and Its Place in Today's Economy" -- sounds perfectly ordinary. Then there's the name of the lecturer. Not exactly ordinary: Ben Bernanke, the sitting chairman of the Federal Reserve. ...

By Christopher S. Rugaber WASHINGTON (AP) -- A resurgent U.S. job market that has lifted the economy appears to be enduring. Factories in the Northeast kept hiring in early March. And the number of people applying for unemployment aid last week fell back to a four-year low. The economy is adding jobs at a ...

By Christopher S. Rugaber WASHINGTON (AP) -- Fewer people sought unemployment benefits last week, adding to signs that the job market is strengthening. ...

By Martin Crutsinger WASHINGTON -- Since the Federal Reserve's policymakers last met in January, the job market has shown more muscle. Employers have hired more than a half million people. The unemployment rate is down. ...

By Martin Crutsinger WASHINGTON (AP) -- The American economy may not be truly healthy yet, but it's healing. The 2.8 percent annual growth rate reported Friday for the fourth quarter was the fastest since spring 2010 and was the third straight quarter that growth has accelerated. ...

By Martin Crutsinger WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Federal Reserve has slightly reduced its outlook for U.S. economic growth this year but is a little more optimistic about the unemployment rate. The Fed expects the economy to grow between 2.2 percent and 2.7 percent in 2012, according to its updated economic ...