Latest Economy News

US government estimates economy grew last quarter at a 2.1% rate, unchanged from previous projection

Sep. 28, 2023 09:28 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy grew at a 2.1% annual pace from April through June, extending its sturdy performance in the face of higher interest rates, the government said Thursday, leaving its previous estimate unchanged. The second-quarter expansion of the nation's gross...

US consumer confidence tumbles in September as American anxiety about the future grows

Sep. 26, 2023 10:31 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The confidence of American consumers slipped this month, particularly about the future, as expectations persist that interest rates will remain elevated for an extended period. The Conference Board, a business research group, said Tuesday that its consumer...

Stock market today: Asian shares dip with eyes on China economy, US shutdown

Sep. 25, 2023 22:17 PM EDT

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares mostly sank Tuesday over worries about a possible U.S. government shutdown and the troubled Chinese economy. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index slipped 0.6% in morning trading to 32,469.85. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 dipped 0.5% to 7,042.50. South Korea's...

Interest rates will stay high 'as long as necessary,' the European Central Bank's leader says

Sep. 25, 2023 13:15 PM EDT

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The head of the European Central Bank said Monday that interest rates will stay high enough to restrict business activity for “as long as necessary” to beat back inflation. Still, she sympathized with homeowners who have seen their mortgage payments jump. ...

Oil prices have risen. That's making gas more expensive for US drivers and helping Russia's war

Sep. 25, 2023 05:21 AM EDT

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Oil prices have risen, meaning drivers are paying more for gasoline and truckers and farmers more for diesel. The increase also complicates the global fight against inflation and feeds Russia's war chest. That poses problems for politicians as well as the...

Stock market today: Wall Street closes its worst week in six months with more losses

Sep. 22, 2023 17:17 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street wheezed to more losses Friday as it limped to the finish of its worst week in six months. The S&P 500 slipped 9.94 points, or 0.2%, to 4,320.06 after a late-day swoon erased a modest gain it had held for most of the day. It capped an ugly slide...

Worries are rising about inflated profit expectations on Wall Street

Sep. 21, 2023 08:18 AM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Corporate profits may have already hit bottom: After falling for much of the last year, S&P 500 companies are expected to report 0.2% profit growth for the summer. While that sounds anemic, it would be the first quarter of growth in a year, according to FactSet....

Chinese officials voice faith in economy and keep interest rates steady as forecasts darken

Sep. 20, 2023 05:07 AM EDT

Leading Chinese planners voiced confidence on Wednesday in the outlook for the world’s second-largest economy, holding key interest rates steady amid signs of improvement in some areas such as services. The upbeat tone of officials speaking at a news conference in Beijing was in...

Germany went from envy of the world to the worst-performing major developed economy. What happened?

Sep. 19, 2023 08:34 AM EDT

ESSEN, Germany (AP) — For most of this century, Germany racked up one economic success after another, dominating global markets for high-end products like luxury cars and industrial machinery, selling so much to the rest of the world that half the economy ran on exports. Jobs were...

Greece wins new credit rating boost that stops short of restoring Greek bonds to investment grade

Sep. 15, 2023 17:45 PM EDT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece's economy received a substantial vote of confidence late Friday from Moody's ratings agency, which upgraded the Greek credit rating by two notches but stopped just short of returning the formerly struggling country to formal financial respectability. ...