The previously growing job market lost some of its punch in July as fewer jobs were added and the unemployment rate increased. While some businesses are still hiring, others are not and the overall tend is downward.

(Updated September, 2007) 

American consumers are feeling the pinch of higher energy and food prices while the measure of inflation watched by the Fed continues on a downward trend. The overall inflation rate rose in May, but the core rate of inflation decreased.

(Updated July, 2007) 

The lingering threat of inflation seems as if it has turned the corner and is trending downward. The April figures released recently suggest that a cooling economy is bringing inflation down with it. However, it may be too soon to call it a trend with the average price of gasoline rising to $3.10 nationally.

(Updated June, 2007) 

The unemployment rate fell and as job growth continued at a strong pace in March. This good news for labor comes at a time when other signs of economic activity are not so strong. The average wage rose to over $17.oo per hour over a year earlier.

(Updated May, 2007) 

For almost seven years the quality of life and the Zimbabwe Economy have been following a slow, deliberate, uninterrupted decline. This year is no different, except the decline is faster. Hyperinflation has left 8 in 10 citizens destitute, destroyed the country's factories and farms, and bankrupted the government.

(Updated March, 2007) 

The latest Beige Book gave indications of an American economy that was better than expected. Workers wages tend to be rising and consumers are spending more at their local malls while the skid in the housing market is easing in some regions of the country.

(Updated February, 2007) 

With recent data suggesting a slowing of inflation many analysts predicted a lowering of interest rates by the Federal Reserve. A recent spike in inflation, however, may quell that opportunity. The core inflation rate, the one used by the Fed to indicate inflationary pressure, rose to 2.6 percent in December.

(Updated February, 2007) 

Economists sometimes refer to a "Goldilocks economy" - one that is not too hot or not too cold. It is an economy that is "just right." The economy of December 2006 has given economists concern, because it is both too hot and too cold.

(Updated January, 2007) 

The Labor Department reported a swift increase in wholesale prices in November. The increase comes as a stark reminder that inflation is still a threat in the United States economy.

(Updated January, 2007) 

Wholesale prices dropped more than expected in September because gasoline prices dropped unexpectedly. However, when the Wholesale Price Index is adjusted by excluding volatile energy and food prices, the so-called core Producer Price Index increased more than analysts expected. These contradictory numbers may dampen any expectations that the Fed will lower interest rates anytime soon.

(Updated November, 2006) 

As America celebrates the Labor Day holiday, employment figures are strong. Hiring picked up in August, bringing the unemployment rate down to 4.7 percent and sending a message of a strong United States economy.

(Updated October, 2006) 

About 13 percent of U.S. men between 30 and 55 are currently working neither working nor looking for work--an increase of 5 percent since the late 1960s. This trend represents a significant cultural shift from three decades ago, when most men invariably went back to work of some kind after losing a job. Generally, workers then were able to find new jobs that met their needs and expectations.

(Updated September, 2006) 

Even as Fed chairman Bernanke paints a rosier inflation picture, the U.S. Labor Department's core Consumer Price Index increased again in June. This was the fourth consecutive increase for the much watched measure of inflation.

(Updated August, 2006) 

American employers added 243,000 new jobs in February. This strong hiring trend by business indicates that employers are optimistic about future U.S. economic performance. But as we know from economics, we always face trade-offs: The downside of the employment growth is additional price pressures as labor costs rise in response to increased demand for workers.

(Updated April, 2006) 

Excluding the volatile food and energy sectors, the U.S. wholesale price level rose 0.3 percent in February. But prices for items like drugs, magazines, machinery and jewelry jumped--causing many analysts to highlight the possibility of higher inflation later in the year.

(Updated April, 2006) 

Congressional Democrats worry that Federal Reserve Chairman nominee Ben S. Bernanke will act too much to control inflation at the cost of not paying enough attention to employment growth. The worry stems from Bernanke’s stance on inflation-targeting in implementing monetary policy as opposed to Alan Greenspan’s attention to and balance between both issues.

(Updated December, 2005) 

Federal Reserve Chair nominee Ben S. Bernanke stated recently that he believes the economy can have both low inflation and employment growth. Current chairman Greenspan agrees that the two issues are compatible. These statements fly in the face of conventional macroeconomic wisdom that we can’t have one without sacrificing the other..

(Updated December, 2005) 

American employers added 207,000 new jobs in July. This U.S. business strong hiring trend indicates that employers are optimistic in the longer term about the state of the U.S. economy. The downside is that the added pressure on prices as labor costs rise in response to the increased demand for workers may mean an overall increase in the price level-sometimes known by its less formal name: Inflation.

(Updated November, 2005) 

In the first broad snapshot of the economy since Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana and Mississippi, the U.S. economy lost only 35,000 jobs. This number was much less than most analysts expected.

(Updated November, 2005) 

Unemployment reached a four-year low as the economy added 169,000 new jobs in July. However, hurricanes Katrina and Rita have created a regional disaster with great potential for disrupting the energy industry. Economists are thus revising their estimates of economic growth downward.

(Updated October, 2005) 

American employers added only 78,000 new jobs in May. This lackluster measure of job growth indicates that employers remain cautious about the strength of the U.S. economic recovery. The increase was the smallest monthly increase in nearly two years.

(Updated August, 2005) 

Housing prices are rising rapidly in most areas of the U.S., but their impact is not reflected in the consumer price index. The reason for what seems to be an inconsistency is explained by the way housing prices are entered into the national data accounts.

(Updated August, 2005) 

The U.S. economy added about 274,000 jobs in April. This unexpectedly high job growth rate may be an indication that the recent economic slowdown may be nothing more than a pause.

(Updated July, 2005) 

After a larger-than-expected increase in March, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose less in April. Prices still rose, but most analysts welcomed the slower pace, which affirmed current Fed monetary policy.

(Updated July, 2005) 

The employment picture for the U.S. economy continues to improve, but slowly. Unemployment fell to 5.2 percent, compared to 5.4 percent in March. Overall, the economy created about 110,000 new jobs.

(Updated June, 2005) 

American employers added 146,000 new jobs in January. Such lackluster job growth indicates that employers are still cautious when it comes to putting on new workers, despite a year of strong economic growth.

(Updated April, 2005) 

Some Federal Reserve officials appear to be worried that inflation will pick up. Those that are worried are pushing for increasing interest rates faster than originally planned.

(Updated April, 2005) 

The economy added about 2.2 million jobs in 2004, just about enough to replace the total number of jobs lost since President Bush took office. The economy appears to continue its recovery, but employers are still cautious about hiring.

(Updated March, 2005) 

The U.S. economy has continued to create new jobs, but not as quickly as experts had forecast. Now, three years after the recession officially ended in November of 2001, job growth continues to be slower than in any previous recovery since World War II.

(Updated February, 2005) 

American employers created 337,000 new jobs in October. This strong measure of job growth renewed hopes that businesses may finally be starting to hire new workers more aggressively. This monthly total was the largest number of new jobs since March, 2004.

(Updated January, 2005) 

The U.S. earnings gap-the difference between salaries paid to highest-income employees and the salaries paid to the remainder of the work force--continues to widen in the current economic recovery. Some higher-paying jobs have been created, but a disproportionate number of new jobs pay much less than firms have previously offered.

(Updated October, 2004) 

Labor Day 2004 brings some rosy statistics for American workers. The national unemployment rate is down, real wages are growing and record-low interest rates promise to boost economic growth and provide more jobs.

(Updated October, 2004) 

Less than three years since the American economy has climbed out of its recession, some economic reports suggest that a sustained recovery may still be in doubt. The evidence: slower-than-expected retail spending, declining auto purchases, and slower computer hardware and software sales. In order to sustain the recovery, the economy needs a boost in consumer spending and new investment spending by businesses.

(Updated September, 2004) 

President Bush continues to assert that the economy is strong and getting stronger. As evidence, he points out that the nation added 1.5 million jobs since last August. On the other hand, Bush's Presidential rival John Kerry and his supporters claim that the country is still generating a million fewer jobs than when Mr. Bush took office. Part of the jobs problem relates to a mismatch between workers' skills and job requirements.

(Updated September, 2004) 

After months of robust employment gains, the government reported recently that U.S hiring slumped sharply in June. The month saw employers add less than half the expected number of new jobs and the number of hours worked dwindled.

(Updated August, 2004) 

After months of robust employment gains, the government reported recently that U.S hiring slumped sharply in June. The month saw employers add less than half the expected number of new jobs and the number of hours worked dwindled.

(Updated August, 2004) 

News stories continue to characterize the Fed's view that inflationary pressures are unlikely to disrupt the economic recovery. At the same time, the press suggests that the Fed is prepared to raise interest rates if economic predictions are wrong.

(Updated August, 2004) 

In March, the economy produced 337,000 new jobs and April added 288,000 jobs for the American economy. According to the Labor Department, this soaring number of new jobs is clear evidence that the pace of hiring is picking up substantially in response to a growing economy. Politically, the meaning of these increases is still in question.

(Updated July, 2004) 

As the economy continues to show signs of improvement, two nagging problems remain. Job growth remains slow and consumer confidence has taken a dip. Economists watch both of these measures closely to forecast future economic conditions.

(Updated May, 2004) 

The Federal Reserve Officials continue to make it clear that they view the current recovery quite differently than recoveries of the past. Their actions continue to offer remarkably cheap money to the American economy, even though all indications are for a continuing rapid rate of growth. If this recovery were like those of the past, all expectations would look toward inflation and an increase in the interest rate by the Federal Reserve.

(Updated March, 2004) 

The economy continues to show signs of strong economic growth, but job creation is not. Normally, a growing economy will created new jobs too. The latest statistics for December indicate that job creation is virtual nil. Not surprisingly, the Democrats have jumped on Bush's inability to create jobs as a way to discredit him in the upcoming election campaign. Administration officials know full well that the economy in general and job creation in particular remain a great political weakness

(Updated March, 2004)