The number of people seeking unemployment aid rose last week for the first time in a month. But the rise comes after weekly claims fell to their lowest level in three and a half years in the previous week, and the overall downward trend suggests hiring could accelerate soon.

Manufacturing grew in December at the fastest pace in six months and hiring at U.S. factories picked up. The data helped bolster the view that the economy gained momentum at the end of last year.

Most Americans are frustrated by decisions that limit the use of high-cost prescriptions and treatments, according to a survey by the Harvard School of Public Health and the Alliance for Aging Research.

Human resource departments across the country had a perfect opportunity to test their own ability to communicate with their work forces this week when the House decided to wait until the last minute to renew the payroll tax cut (for a whopping two months).

Just weeks after overhauling the state's public pension system, Rhode Island lawmakers plan to consider giving cities and towns the power to revamp municipal pension plans.

As the new year begins, continuing economic pressures have enhanced the attractiveness of voluntary benefits for both employers and employees.

Leaving behind a year of bruising legislative battles, President Barack Obama enters his fourth year in office having calculated that he no longer needs Congress to promote his agenda and may even benefit in his re-election campaign if lawmakers accomplish little in 2012.

In a cost-saving move, Social Security has suspended the annual mailing of personal benefit estimates, which traditionally arrived a few months before each covered workers birthday.