• December 21, 2017
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Initial U.S. jobless claims, a tool to measure layoffs, rose by 20,000 to 245,000 in the week ended Dec. 16. That was above the 230,000 estimated. The more stable monthly average of claims increased by 1,250 to 236,000, the government said Thursday. The number of people already collecting unemployment benefits, known as continuing claims, rose

• December 21, 2017
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The U.S. economy’s pace of growth in the third quarter was lowered slightly to a 3.2% annual rate from 3.3% under the government’s final revision to gross domestic product. Economists were expecting GDP to be unrevised. The economy expanded at a 3.1% rate in the second quarter.

• December 20, 2017
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The House gave final approval Wednesday to the Republican tax reform package, sending the legislation to President Trump’s desk. It is the biggest rewrite of the tax code since the Reagan administration.

• December 20, 2017
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Existing-home sales were at a 5.81 million seasonally adjusted annual rate in November, the National Association of Realtors said Wednesday. Sales of previously-owned homes surged 5.6% to an annual 5.81 million pace in November, the third month of increases and the strongest since December 2006. Sales were 3.8% higher compared to a year ago in

• December 19, 2017
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The U.S. current-account deficit, a measures of the nation’s debt to other countries, sank 19% in the third quarter to the lowest level in three years. The deficit declined to $100.6 billion from $124.4 billion. The U.S. recorded a small deficit in secondary income and goods and a bigger surplus in primary income and services.

• December 18, 2017
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Treasury prices fell, pushing yields higher, on Monday on mounting expectations that Congress will pass tax-cut legislation this week. The 10-year Treasury note yield rose to 2.371%, up from 2.353% on late Friday. The 2-year note yield edged higher to 1.848%, from 1.840%. The 30-year bond yield rose to 2.702%, versus 2.685%. Bond prices move

• December 15, 2017
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The Empire State manufacturing index fell slightly in December, to a reading of 18 from 19.6 in November, the New York Fed said Friday. Any reading above zero indicates improving conditions, though it’s the third drop in a row.

• December 14, 2017
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Initial U.S. jobless claims, a tool to measure layoffs, fell by 11,000 to 225,000 in the seven days ended Dec 9. That’s just a few shades above the postrecession low. Economists surveyed had forecast claims to total 235,000. The more stable monthly average of claims slipped by 6,750 to 234,750, the government said Thursday The

• December 14, 2017
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The U.S. import price index jumped 0.7% in November, once again spurred by rising oil prices. Excluding fuel, import prices were unchanged, the government said Thursday. The increase in import prices over the past 12 months rose to 3.1% from 2.3%. If fuel is omitted, the increase in import prices over the past year was

• December 14, 2017
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U.S. retail sales increased more than expected in November. The holiday shopping season got off to a brisk start, pointing to sustained strength in the economy. The Commerce Department said on Thursday that retail sales rose 0.8 percent last month.