U.S. economy

George Soros, founder and chairman of Soros Fund Management, speaks during the 2011 forum

Billionaire Investor George Soros Sees Economic Trouble Ahead

3:14pm June 09, 2016

by Chris Arnold

The last time the hedge fund founder started making big defensive investing moves was right before the worst financial crisis to hit the U.S. since the Great Depression.

Factories have been closing in southwest Ohio for years. This Delphi factory in Dayton shut down in 2006. Economists say that to a large degree, the decline in middle incomes reflects the loss of factory jobs.

In 9 Out Of 10 Cities, Middle-Income Families Are Slipping Away

6:12pm May 12, 2016

by Marilyn Geewax

A new study by the Pew Research Center shows the share of middle-income households is shrinking. That's because more households are moving into the upper class, while others are sinking lower.

Abandoned homes molder on the east side of Detroit last year.

Millions Of Voters Are Sending A Message: Our Economic Framework Is Rotten

12:22pm March 11, 2016

by Marilyn Geewax

The Washington consensus on economic policy hasn't changed for decades: Economists and most political leaders say growth is tied to trade, immigration and technology. But now many workers disagree.

Consumers have been benefiting from lower gas prices. Here, prices dip below $2 per gallon at an Exxon station in Woodbridge, Va., on Jan. 5.

Why Cheap Gas Might Not Be Good For The U.S. Economy

1:34am January 29, 2016

by Chris Arnold

A drop in global oil prices saved U.S. drivers $100 billion last year. Good news, right? Not so, say some economists. The energy industry is now so big that cheap oil may actually hurt the economy.

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Pump jacks at the Belridge oil field in California's Kern County. Oil prices are expected to remain low in 2016 and economic growth is projected to pick up slightly, forecasters say.

No Crystal Ball? Here's Help With 2016 Economic Forecasts

3:13pm December 21, 2015

by Marilyn Geewax

Investors might wish for a device to peer into the future, but they must settle for economic forecasters. For 2016, most forecasters are seeing signs pointing toward more profits and jobs.

U.S. Economic Growth Slowed Considerably In 3rd Quarter

11:59am October 29, 2015

by Jim Zarroli

Growth came in at a 1.5 percent annual rate, a sharp slowdown from the 3.9 percent gain in the previous quarter. Companies cut back on the amount of goods on shelves, but consumers continued to spend.

Seattle Police Detective Kevin Nelson (left) talks with U.S. Army soldiers at an October job fair at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., for soldiers who may exit military service in the next year.

Economy Adds A Disappointing 126,000 Jobs In March

2:05pm April 03, 2015

by Scott Neuman

The monthly numbers from the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics were well short of the 245,000 jobs economists had expected.

A construction worker looks down on the site of the Manhattan West project last month in New York. Construction was among the hardest-hit sectors during the worst recession in modern memory.

Economy Adds 257,000 New Jobs; Unemployment Rate Up Slightly

10:47am February 06, 2015

by Scott Neuman

The jobless rate ticked up to 5.7 percent despite robust job growth that exceeded economists' expectations.

Looking To 2015, Economists See 5 Reasons To Celebrate

10:39am December 29, 2014

by Marilyn Geewax

Economists' forecasts for 2015 have gotten even more optimistic as oil prices have declined. Most now say inflation will remain low as hiring strengthens. That should lead to more consumer spending.