The first phase of a deal to raise the government's borrowing limit would pose little threat to the economy in the short term because almost none of the spending cuts would occur before 2014.

The number of people seeking unemployment benefits dropped last week to the lowest level since early April, a sign the job market may be healing after a recent slump.

More people applied for unemployment benefits last week, evidence that layoffs are rising and the job market is weak.

Fewer people sought unemployment benefits last week, an encouraging sign the job market may be slowly improving.

Hiring slowed to a near-standstill last month, raising doubts that the economy will rebound in the second half of the year after a spring slump.

June may turn out to have been a good month to find a job after all.

The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits was mostly unchanged last week, evidence that the weak economy is struggling to generate jobs.

Falling home prices have shrunk the equity Americans have in their homes to nearly the lowest percentage since World War II.