If recessions could have a sound, it would be the slam of lending windows shutting at banks. No wonder: When businesses and consumers have trouble borrowing money, economic growth may grind to a halt. ...more

January 30, 2008

The Bush administration is sending strong signals that U.S. troop reductions in Iraq will slow or stop altogether this summer, a move that would jeopardize hopes of relieving strain on the Army and Marine Corps and revive debate over an open-ended U.S. commitment in Iraq. ...more

January 30, 2008

The United States deploys far too many troops in too many places around the world. More worrisome to taxpayers are its plans to keep huge numbers of troops in distant, quiet outposts forever. ...more

January 21, 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

Pinellas County's tourism consultant said Wednesday that he thinks the nation already has entered a recession, although the effect on tourism might not be as bad as others think if the industry takes steps to promote itself aggressively. ...more

January 17, 2008

AVON PARK — The national economic disaster that was 2007 also whacked Highlands County's home building industry. According to figures released by Building Official S.Y. Moseley's office, the value of building permits dropped 30 percent last year. About twice as many single family homes were built two years ago, 1,156 in 2006 versus 563 building permits in 2007. It's affecting contractors and their subcontractors, said County Commissioner Don Bates: "There are a lot of guys who are looking for work, who are ready to go to work, and they're out of work." Because they're skilled tradesmen, some are taking lower wages than they were earning in good times, ...more

January 13, 2008

For the first time in its history Southwest Airlines announced a major seasonal change in schedules beginning May 10 that will add flights in growth markets - including Tampa - and trim flights elsewhere. ...more

January 9, 2008

Seniors and the disabled flocked to the pharmacy counter in 2006 with their new Medicare drug cards, fueling a 6.7 percent increase in health spending, the federal government reported Monday. ...more

January 8, 2008

Life in Florida has changed in ways many residents don't like. ...more

January 1, 2008

The latest mixed bag of news for retailers hails from cyberspace: holiday e-commerce sales were robust but showed their slowest-ever growth, industry analysts projected. ...more

December 31, 2007