Daily Archives: February 18th, 2010
Manufacturing sector making a comeback
The long-battered U.S. manufacturing sector is showing surprising signs of strength and many experts think it has relatively bright prospects for at least the next several years. Improved productivity, the global economic recovery and a lower value of the dollar have lifted exports of goods 24% since April. January was the first month in three [...]
Jobless claims rise unexpectedly
DANIEL WAGNER, AP Business Writer WASHINGTON – The number of newly laid-off workers filing applications for unemployment benefits unexpectedly surged last week after having fallen sharply in the previous week. The gain dampened hopes about how quickly the labor market may improve this year. The Labor Department said Thursday that first-time claims for unemployment benefits [...]
Wholesale Prices Rise Twice As Much As Expected
Wholesale prices shot up at double the expected pace in January, propelled higher by big increases in energy costs. The surprisingly large jump was viewed as a temporary blip and not the start of inflation problems, however. The Labor Department said Thursday that wholesale prices rose 1.4 percent last month, reflecting higher costs for gasoline [...]