The U.S. trade deficit shrank more than forecast in December and showed the first annual drop since 2001 as the faltering economy eroded demand for imported autos and Chinese-made consumer goods. ...more

February 15, 2008

Retail sales posted a surprising rebound in January following a dismal December, though much of the strength reflected rising gasoline prices. Economists saw the increase as a temporary blip rather than a sustained recovery. ...more

February 14, 2008

The number of Americans signing contracts to buy previously owned homes fell more than forecast in December, reinforcing Federal Reserve officials' view that the housing slump won't bottom out until late this year. ...more

February 8, 2008

U.S. factories saw demand for their products rise in December by the largest amount in five months, a spot of welcome news that failed to change the picture of an economy struggling to stay afloat. ...more

February 5, 2008

A jittery Wall Street advanced Monday, reversing some of Friday's sharp losses as investors took a dismal new home sales report as a sign the Federal Reserve will lower rates this week. ...more

January 29, 2008

Purchases of new homes in the United States unexpectedly fell to a 12-year low in December, ending the worst sales year since records began in 1963 and signaling little prospect for a recovery in residential real estate. ...more

January 28, 2008

In the face of rising inventories of vacant homes and declining orders for new ones, Tampa Bay homebuilders slashed construction 59 percent in 2007, according to preliminary data released Thursday by Metrostudy, a Houston-based housing research firm. ...more

January 18, 2008

The bill for America's excessive borrowing during the housing boom has arrived, and more people are having trouble paying it. ...more

January 17, 2008

A growing conviction that the United States is headed toward recession sent Wall Street plunging Tuesday, with weak retail sales figures and disappointing results from Citigroup exacerbating investors' pessimistic mood. The Dow Jones industrials tumbled nearly 280 points. ...more

January 16, 2008

Orders to U.S. factories jumped in November by the largest amount in four months. The increase was driven by higher petroleum prices and was not viewed as a sign of any newfound strength in manufacturing. ...more

January 4, 2008