Fewer people applied for unemployment benefits last week, a sign that the job market may be improving slightly.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy grew at a meager 1 percent annual pace this spring, slower than previously estimated. The downward revision stoked…

Thousands of Verizon workers on strike pushed the number of people seeking unemployment benefits last week to its highest level in a month.

Discouraging economic data from around the globe have heightened fears that another recession is on the way.

The number of people applying for unemployment benefits rose back above 400,000 last week. Still, the four-week average, a more reliable gauge of the job market, fell to the lowest level since mid-April.

Employers posted more job openings in June, a sign that hiring could improve a bit in the coming months.

Better. The job market beat expectations, and the stock market managed a modest gain — not great, but good enough after a turbulent week.

Hiring picked up slightly in July, and the unemployment rate dipped to 9.1 percent. The modest improvement could ease fears of another recession, but it wasn't enough to prevent another wild day of trading on Wall Street.