The number of new jobless claims and the total number of people receiving unemployment benefits both dropped more than expected last week, though they remain at elevated levels and are unlikely to fall substantially in the coming months. ...more

March 6, 2009

As part of the latest stimulus package, unemployment benefits for eligible workers has increased by $25 per week. ...more

March 4, 2009

Change Equals Higher Taxes For More Welfare Programs This will sound a like an unusual request in a letter to the editor, but I hope you readers will indulge me. The recently passed, 1,100 page "stimulus bill" was enacted into law so quickly that virtually no one had the time to read it before having to vote on it. ...more

March 1, 2009

Zale Jewelry Closing 115 Stores Zale Corp., the Dallas-based jeweler, will close 115 underperforming stores across the country in the next 18 months, but it wasn't clear how many will close in the Tampa Bay area. A spokeswoman for Zale said the company will reveal that information shortly before each store closes. ...more

February 27, 2009

Feb. Could Be Worst Month Yet For Jobless Claims WASHINGTON (AP) - February is shaping up to be another brutal month of job losses: The number of laid-off workers receiving unemployment benefits hit an all-time high of nearly 5 million, and new jobless claims are at levels not seen since the early 1980s. ...more

February 22, 2009

The number of laid-off workers receiving unemployment benefits has jumped to an all-time high near 5 million while new jobless claims remain well above 600,000. Both figures were worse than expected and new projections from the Federal Reserve show unemployment rising for the rest of this year. ...more

February 20, 2009

The economy is shrinking. The recession is deepening. And tens of thousands of people were laid off this week alone. ...more

February 20, 2009

The number of laid-off workers receiving unemployment benefits has jumped to an all-time high near 5 million while new jobless claims remain well above 600,000. Both figures were worse than expected and new projections from the Federal Reserve show unemployment rising for the rest of this year. ...more

February 19, 2009

The United Auto Workers' deal with Detroit's three automakers limits overtime, changes work rules, cuts lump-sum cash bonuses and gets rid of cost-of-living pay raises to help reduce the companies' labor costs, people briefed on the agreement said Wednesday. ...more

February 18, 2009

Highlights of the $787 billion bill signed into law Tuesday by President Barack Obama. Additional debt costs would add about $330 billion over 10 years. Many provisions expire in two years. ...more

February 17, 2009