The economic news in recent weeks suggests that the recovery has hit a rough patch, but at least one forward-looking review of the macro trend says the rearview mirror may be misleading, as the economists see moderately improving conditions in the second half of this year.
US exports hit a record high in March, returning to levels not seen since before the global financial crisis. Meanwhile, jobs openings rose by the most since 2008 and retail sales grew for tenth straight month.
Manufacturing grew in December at the fastest pace in six months, the latest sign that the US economy gained momentum at the end of last year. Manufacturing has expanded for more than two years. Factories were one of the first areas of the economy to start growing after the recession officially ended in June 2009.
The US stock markets rose more than 3 percent in late morning trading today after hearing the latest U.S. economic data on unemployment claims. The government reported that weekly initial jobless claims fell to their lowest level in four months
The world economy is gaining strength as global private sector activity hit a one-year high in February, building on the gains of previous months. Momentum is growing in both service and manufacturing industries, with strong improvement in the United States leading the way, according to a new report by JPMorgan.
General Motors earned its largest profit ever in 2011, two years after it nearly collapsed. Strong sales in the United States and China helped the automaker turn a profit of $7.6 billion, beating its old record of $6.7 billion set during the pickup and SUV boom of 1997. GM said 47,500 blue-collar workers in the United States will get $7,000 profit-sharing checks in March.
The unemployment rate fell for the fifth straight month after a surge of January hiring, a promising shift in the nation's outlook for job growth. The Labor Department says employers added 243,000 jobs in January, the most in nine months
American consumers spent enough in December to lift sales to a record level for 2011. It marked the largest annual increase in consumer spending in more than a decade.
Lower trade deficits boosted optimism in the U.S. economic growth this week. American businesses sold a record number of goods and services in Europe, China and other foreign markets in February, while imports declined.
Mitsubishi electric car owners in Japan will soon be able to use the family car as an emergency generator, using their EV's batteries to power a home.
Nissan is back, one year after an earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan ground auto production to a halt, left giant cracks at a key factory and killed five employees and 17 family members. It's a story of surprising recovery that's playing out at other Japanese automakers, but particularly at Nissan.
Following the sun across the nation, a crew of young filmmakers got a first-hand look at how solar is working for Americans, reducing utility costs for diverse users like a boat marina, fire station, zoo and the Crayola Crayon factory.
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