Latest News Updates From Christopher Rugaber

Government, Business

US Sheds 701,000 Jobs, Ending a Record Hiring Streak

A recordlong streak of U.S. job growth ended suddenly in March after nearly a decade as employers cut 701,000 jobs because of the viral outbreak that has all but shut down the U.S. economy.

April 3, 2020
Government, Business

Fed to Buy a Range of Treasury Bonds to Try to Ease Jitters

WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve will sharply increase its purchases of short-term U.S. Treasury bonds to try to ease anxiety and disruptions in the financial markets over the coronavirus outbreak.

March 12, 2020
Government, Business

Consumer Prices Grew 0.1% in February as Food Costs Rose

WASHINGTON — U.S. consumer prices increased slightly last month, driven higher by more expensive food.

March 11, 2020
Business

US Businesses Add 183,000 Jobs in Sign of Pre-Virus Health

WASHINGTON — U.S. businesses added 183,000 jobs last month, a solid gain that shows the economy was largely healthy when the coronavirus outbreak spread farther around the globe.

March 4, 2020
Government, Business

Consumer Spending Slowed in January While Incomes Jumped

WASHINGTON — Americans pulled back on their spending in January, even as their incomes surged, a sign the economy was growing modestly before the threat of coronavirus arose.

February 28, 2020
Government, Business

Federal Reserve Saw Declining Recession Risk in December

WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve’s policymaking committee saw much less risk of recession at its meeting in December, when it kept interest rates steady after three straight cuts and signaled that it expected to keep low rates unchanged through this year.

January 3, 2020
Government, Business

US Gains a Robust 266,000 Jobs

WASHINGTON — Hiring in the United States jumped last month to its highest level since January as U.S. employers shrugged off trade conflicts and a global slowdown and added 266,000 jobs.

December 6, 2019
Government, Business

Survey: Businesses Added Just 67,000 Jobs in November

WASHINGTON — U.S. companies added just 67,000 jobs in November, a private survey found, barely half the gain of the previous month.

December 4, 2019
Government, Business

Fed’s Powell Sees Steady Growth, Signals Pause in Rate Cuts

WASHINGTON — Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell expects the U.S. economy to continue growing at a solid pace, though it still faces risks from slower growth overseas and trade tensions.

November 13, 2019
Government, Business

Survey: Business Hiring Falls to Seven-Year Low

WASHINGTON — A measure of hiring by U.S. companies has fallen to a seven-year low and fewer employers are raising pay, a business survey has found.

October 28, 2019