The number of U.S. workers filing for unemployment benefits fell only slightly last week and productivity at businesses dropped for the first time in eight quarters, according to government statistics released Thursday, reflecting an economic recovery that continues to stall.


Economic - Social Sciences - Unemployment - United States - Recession

U.S. regulators fell short in using their powers "forcefully or effectively" to stop risky practices by banks and were "slow to identify and address abuses" in subprime mortgage lending before the financial crisis, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said in prepared remarks.


Financial crisis - Economic - Business - Social Sciences - Ben Bernanke

Chastened by the recession, more U.S. consumers have become cheapskates: They are saving more and driving older cars. And that, in part, explains the historically dismal sales reports released Wednesday by automakers.


GeneralMotors - Chrysler - Autos - Recreation - Makes and Models

Auto sales were weak in August, partly because of the weak economy, partly because this year's numbers fall well short of last years's numbers, which were spiked by the government incentive program known as "Cash for Clunkers."


GeneralMotors - Chrysler - Autos - Recreation - Makes and Models

The U.S. government designated the Pakistani Taliban a terrorist group Wednesday and charged its leader, Hakimullah Mehsud, with involvement in a December suicide bombing that killed seven Americans at a remote CIA operating base in Afghanistan.


Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan - Afghanistan - Pakistan - Asia - Politics

U.S. regulators acting on "flawed information" denied Lehman Brothers the bailout assistance that its Wall Street competitors received, dooming the investment bank to collapse, former company chief executive Richard S. Fuld said Wednesday.



Lehman Brothers - Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission - Financial crisis - Richard Fuld - Business

Departing White House chief economist Christina Romer urged Congress on Wednesday to "finish the job of economic recovery" by pumping more cash into the economy through additional tax cuts for businesses and middle-class families, as well as fresh investments in the nation's infrastructure.


United States Congress - Congress - United States - People - Economic

After their worst August in nine years, stocks kicked off September with a big snap-back rally, following the release Wednesday of surprisingly good news about the U.S. manufacturing sector.


Sports - Rallying - Motorsports - United States - United States dollar

Government contractor Science Applications International Corp. says its second-quarter profit grew nearly 54 percent as it refocused its business on key growth areas, such as cybersecurity, energy and health.


United States - SAIC - General Motors - Services - Business

The city of Harrisburg has said that it will not make a $3.3 million municipal bond payment due in two weeks, a decision that could move the Pennsylvania capital closer to bankruptcy.


Harrisburg Pennsylvania - United States - Law - Services - Lawyers and Law Firms

Apple Inc. introduced a new line of iPods today, touting new colors, improved camera functionality and better battery life. Here is a play-by-play of Steve Job's demonstration of the music players to the public. Read more about Apple's fall product line on Faster Forward.



Apple - Netflix - Macintosh - Apple II - Television

Apple Inc. introduced a new line of iPods today, touting new colors, improved camera functionality and better battery life. Here is a play-by-play of Steve Job's demonstration of the music players to the public. Read more about Apple's fall product line on Faster Forward.


Apple - Netflix - Macintosh - Apple II - Television

Apple Inc. introduced Ping today, a new social music network, included with iTunes 10. Here is a play-by-play of Steve Job's introduction of Ping to the public. Read more about Apple's fall product line on Faster Forward.


Apple - iTunes - Social network - Facebook - Steve Jobs

Apple Inc. announced today a smaller, cheaper version of its Apple TV device for streaming movies and television shows over the Internet. Here is a play-by-play of Steve Job's introduction of Apple TV to the public. Read more about Apple's fall product line on Faster Forward.


Apple - Steve Jobs - IPod - Netflix - Companies

Apple Inc. announced today a smaller, cheaper version of its Apple TV device for streaming movies and television shows over the Internet. Here is a play by play of Steve Job's introduction of Apple TV to the public. Read more about Apple's fall product line on Faster Forward.



Apple - Steve Jobs - IPod - Netflix - Companies

Unemployment in the Washington region remained steady at 6.3 percent from June to July, according to federal government data released Wednesday, despite significant job growth during the past year.


Washington - United States - Unemployment - Business and Economy - Work

In her final speech as White House chief economist, Christina Romer on Wednesday will call on Congress to summon the political will to approve additional spending on the economy.



Economic - Christina Romer - Social Sciences - Barack Obama - Council of Economic Advisers

Moody's, one of three major credit rating firms that misjudged many of the securities at the center of the financial crisis, escaped legal action when regulators said they would not sue the company for fraud despite finding evidence that the firm misled investors.


Moody - Fraud - Business - U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission - Credit rating agency

The agency's decision sidesteps a major sore point in trade relations between the two countries.


China - Asia - United States - United States Department of Commerce - Business and Economy