Apr 29 U.S. consumer spending spikes 0.9 percent in March By Martin Crutsinger, Associated Press The March gain was the biggest monthly increase since August 2009, the Commerce Department reported. Continue reading
Mar 08 Why February’s weak jobs gains might not tell the whole story By Gretchen Frazee The U.S. economy added 20,000 jobs in February -- a number far below expectations. Unemployment dropped to 3.8 percent. Continue reading
Dec 07 Why slower hiring in November isn’t necessarily a bad thing By Gretchen Frazee The U.S. economy added 155,000 jobs in November and the unemployment rate held steady at 3.7 percent. Continue reading
Nov 02 Wages are finally ticking up. Here’s why By Gretchen Frazee Average hourly wages rose 3.1 percent, the unemployment rate held steady at 3.7 percent, and the economy added 250,000 jobs in October. Continue reading
Oct 05 The unemployment rate is the lowest it’s been since 1969. Here’s why By Gretchen Frazee The unemployment rate dropped to 3.7 percent in September, the lowest since the Vietnam War. The economy added 134,00 jobs, fewer than expected because of losses from Hurricane Florence. Continue reading
Oct 02 Why Social Security’s annual increase doesn’t actually keep up with cost of living By Paul Solman The government adjusts Social Security benefits each year based on inflation rates, but that increase has not kept up with the rising cost of medical care and other expenses. Continue reading
Sep 07 Why wages are on the rise and other important numbers from the August jobs report By Gretchen Frazee The economy added 201,000 jobs in August, and the national unemployment rate remained at 3.9 percent. Continue reading
Aug 21 Venezuela knocks 5 zeros off its currency. Will anything change? By Larisa Epatko In an effort to curb soaring inflation in Venezuela, President Nicolas Maduro shaved five zeros off the value of the bolivar. Is it enough? We asked several analysts to explain. Continue reading
Sep 30 Column: What’s missing in our economy? Inflation By Vikram Mansharamani Quantitative easing and other unconventional policies should have produced extraordinary inflation, quite possibly even hyperinflation. So what's going on?… Continue reading
Jun 21 Watch 5:03 Venezuelans face collapsing economy, starvation and crime By PBS News Hour Plummeting worldwide fuel prices have damaged several economies, but perhaps no country has been hit harder than Venezuela. Once flush with oil money, the nation now faces a collapsing economy, skyrocketing inflation and a wave of looting and crime driven… Continue watching