Economy, January | featured news

The Consumer Confidence Index rose in January to its highest level in eight months with Americans growing a little more confident about the job market and business conditions.

Hopes that the economy can sustain its recovery drew support Wednesday from news that industrial ouput rose for a seventh straight month and home construction hit a six-month peak in January....

Retail sales posted a better-than-expected increase in January, a welcome development that could mean stronger economic growth in coming months.

The nation's unemployment rate tumbled unexpectedly to 9.7% in January, first time it's fallen below double digits since September, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.

The economy's service sector grew in January for the first time since September while the pace of job losses moderated, a private trade group said Wednesday.