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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

The Two-Way

192,000 Jobs Added To Payrolls This Month, Report Signals

Looking for work: In Birmingham, Ala., last summer, Jessica McQueen (left) and Ashley Abramson were among those filling out applications at a jobs fair.

January 30, 2013 The latest ADP National Employment Report seems to show a modest uptick in employment growth as 2013 began. But it comes after a surprisingly downbeat report about how the economy was doing as it ended 2012.

Summary

The Two-Way

Economy Shrank At 0.1 Percent Annual Rate In Fourth Quarter

January 30, 2013 The economy had not contracted in any quarter since the spring of 2009. Among the reasons why there wasn't growth in the last three months of 2012: steep cuts in defense spending.

Summary

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

The Two-Way

Home Prices Continue To Rise; Housing Is Now Economic 'Bright Spot'

A sign of the times in Boca Raton, Fla. (November 2012 file photo.)

January 29, 2013 In nearly all major cities across the nation, prices rose at a faster pace in November than they had in October, the latest S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices report shows. It's another sign that the housing sector has recovered from its bust.

Summary

Monday, January 28, 2013

The Two-Way

After Rising To Pre-recession Levels, Stocks Pause; Will Bulls Resume Running?

Traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Monday.

January 28, 2013 Though stocks took a breather Monday from their recent rally, there are reasons to think they'll continue their upward move in coming months. Money seems to be moving out of bonds and into stocks, corporate earnings are better than expected and economies overseas are getting back on their feet.

Summary

Friday, January 25, 2013

The Two-Way

Sales Of New Homes Fell In December, But Were Up Sharply In 2012

A "sold" sign outside a home under construction last fall in Peoria, Ill.

January 25, 2013 There were an estimated 367,000 new homes sold last year, up 19.9 percent from the 306,000 sold in 2011. The dip in December isn't being seen as a sign that the recovery has gone off track.

Summary

Thursday, January 24, 2013

The Two-Way

Jobless Claims Hold At Five-Year Low

January 24, 2013 There were 330,000 first-time claims for benefits last week, down 5,000 from the week before. That means applications remain at the lowest level since January 2008.

Summary

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

The Two-Way

Sales Of Existing Homes Hit Five-Year High In 2012

A "sale pending" sign outside a home in San Francisco last August.

January 22, 2013 The housing market continues to show signs that it's on the mend. Both sales and prices are up from a year ago.

Summary

Thursday, January 17, 2013

The Two-Way

Jobless Claims At Five-Year Low; Home Building Hit Five-Year High In 2012

Going up in Chicago: Row houses under construction.

January 17, 2013 The day's economic news is on the positive side: 37,000 fewer people filed claims for unemployment benefits last week; and home construction surged in December and last year.

Summary

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

The Two-Way

Inflation Rate Slowed Sharply In 2012; Prices Were Flat In December

The cost of a gallon of gas kept rising last year, but not at the torrid pace of 2010 and 2011. That helped keep inflation in check.

January 16, 2013 Consumer prices rose just 1.7 percent in 2012, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. That's about half the pace of 2011 — when prices went up 3 percent. A sharp slowing in the increase of gas prices was a major factor. The news means interest rates will likely stay low.

Summary

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

The Two-Way

Retail Sales Rose As 2012 Ended; Inflation Remained In Check

Shoppers in Manhattan on Christmas Eve last month.

January 15, 2013 Consumers were still in a spending mood in December, even as lawmakers battled over the budget. Meanwhile, wholesale prices fell slightly. Those are both good signs for the economy.

Summary

Friday, January 04, 2013

The Two-Way

155,000 Jobs Added In December, Jobless Rate At 7.8 Percent

Looking for work: The scene at a "diversity job fair" in Manhattan last month.

January 4, 2013 Growth was in line with expectations and adds to the evidence that the nation continues to add jobs at a modest pace.

Summary

The Two-Way

Did Hiring Pick Up As 2012 Ended? We'll Find Out Shortly

The scene at a job fair in San Mateo, Calif., earlier this year.

January 4, 2013 The December employment report is due. Economists expect to hear that the jobless rate remained at 7.7 percent and that about 150,000 jobs were added to payrolls. If there is a surprise, some analysts say, it's likely to be better-than-expected news.

Summary

ListenPlaylist

Thursday, December 27, 2012

The Two-Way

Consumer Confidence Dips; New Home Sales Rise

December 27, 2012 Many Americans appear to be worried about what will happen to the economy if the federal government goes over the so-called fiscal cliff, the Conference Board reports. But there's also good news: The housing sector continues to recover.

Summary

The Two-Way

Jobless Claims Fell By 12,000 Last Week

The line at a job fair earlier this month in Manhattan.

December 27, 2012 There were 350,000 first-time claims for unemployment benefits last week. That's the lowest level since March 2008. But because of the Christmas holiday, some states had to do more estimating than usual.

Summary

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

The Two-Way

'Housing Recovery Is Gathering Strength,' New Report On Prices Signals

A "sold" sign outside a home under construction in Peoria, Ill., in October.

December 26, 2012 Prices in 20 major cities were up 4.3 percent in October, vs. October 2011. Combined with other recent reports on construction and sales, that's another sign the housing sector is on the mend.

Summary

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