U.S. economy

The U.S. economy grew last year at the fastest pace since 1984, but growth was tempered by successive waves of the pandemic.

The Federal Reserve is preparing to raise interest rates sooner and — perhaps — more aggressively after inflation reached the highest in nearly 40 years.

U.S. employers added 199,000 jobs in December as the unemployment rate fell to 3.9%, marking a second consecutive month of disappointing numbers.

The U.S. economy is lacking more than a million immigrant workers who would be here if not for the pandemic and Trump-era cuts. That may be hurting industries that depend on immigrants, like trucking.

The Federal Reserve is opening the door to possible interest rate hikes earlier next year than had been expected, as it wrestles with the highest inflation in nearly four decades.

Businesses across the country, from restaurants to retail, must decide when, not if, to raises prices and by how much.

Hiring slowed sharply last month, even as the unemployment rate fell to 4.2%. Data from the Labor Department suggest the economy was losing steam even before the appearance of a new COVID-19 variant.

President Biden has tapped Jerome Powell to serve a second term as chairman of the Federal Reserve as the economy faces huge challenges, including surging inflation.

Consumer prices were 6.2% higher in October than a year ago as inflation continues to chip away at the buying power of households across the country.

U.S. employers added 531,000 new jobs as the unemployment rate fell to 4.6%. Millions of would-be workers are still on the sidelines, though, leaving the pace of the recovery in doubt.