Two days before the government's much-anticipated jobs report, a snapshot of employment trends in the service sector flashed an ominous sign.

Service firms that employ 90 percent of the U.S. work force expanded at a slightly slower pace in September than the previous month.

Europe has a debt crisis. America has a jobs crisis. Corporate profits could be in trouble. World financial markets are in turmoil. And no one seems prepared to ride to the rescue.

The economy is showing signs of modest improvement not enough to reduce high unemployment but enough to ease fears that another recession might be near.

The number of people seeking unemployment benefits fell sharply last week, an encouraging sign that layoffs are easing.

The economy will likely expand this fall at a weak pace, but the risks are rising of another recession, a private research group says.

The number of people applying for unemployment benefits fell last week, though the decline isn't enough to signal improvement in the job market.

The number of people applying for unemployment benefits last week jumped to the highest level in three months, a sign that layoffs could be increasing.