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ST. LOUIS - Following the lead of Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and the stock market, the nation’s top business economists, gathering here for their annual meeting, have declared “the Great Recession of 2008-09 is over.” But the forecasters aren’t exactly popping champagne corks about what they see coming next.
NEW YORK - The stock market thinks the economic recovery is under way. It had better be right.
Despite hopeful signs among this week's economic data, the recovery from the worst downturn in decades remains hostage to the high jobless rate. By msnbc.com's John W. Schoen.
The top industrialized nations met in Pittsburgh to discuss ways to head off another financial collapse. But don't expect any major progress. By msnbc.com's John W. Schoen.
How much is it going to cost to provide health care for all Americans? Until the details are complete, the only honest answer is: no one knows. By msnbc.com's John W Schoen.
Some investors and market watchers say the stock market may have overestimated the prospects for an economic rebound — and share prices could be due for a big pullback.
Feel like you’re working a lot harder for the same pay – or even less? A new round of government data indicates that you probably are. By msnbc.com's John W. Schoen.
There’s growing optimism about signs of life in the economy as the pace of job losses slows. But this recovery – when it comes – won’t feel like any in memory. By John W Schoen.
For most of its 95-year history, the Federal Reserve has been a pretty sleepy, opaque institution. No more.
Sometimes the "shovel-ready" roads from the government's economic stimulus program lead straight to a pile of paperwork but not to the jobs they were supposed to create.
News that 10 big banks will repay $68 billion in government bailout funds is being hailed as a key milestone on the road to a recovery for the battered banking system. But despite clear signs of improvement, the road is still full of potential potholes — especially for weaker banks that haven’t been able to replace government-provided capital with private investment.
The worst of the job market collapse appears to be over. But with businesses still shedding hundreds of thousands of jobs each month, it will take well into next year or longer before the economy creates enough new jobs to begin bringing the the unemployment rate back to pre-recession levels.
As the U.S. Treasury continues to churn out hundreds of billions of dollars of fresh debt, officials are confronting one of the thorniest problems since the financial crisis began.
More than two years year after the housing market tanked and the foreclosure rate began rising, the ongoing wave of distressed home sales is weighing on house prices and crimping a long-awaited economic recovery.
Call it one of the recession's silver linings — with each passing day, the purchasing power of each consumer dollar is getting stronger.
It may be a false dawn, but recent data are providing mounting evidence that the U.S. economy is edging toward the long road back to recovery.
The “stress tests” for banks are over. The results have been made public. For some of us, the stress may just be starting.
Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke has said he hopes the bank "stress tests" will help the "healing process" for Wall Street and the economy. Hope springs eternal.
The Treasury’s “stress test” for the U.S. financial system sounded like a good idea at the time. But as officials wrap up and begin disclosing the results, some critics are giving the entire process a failing grade.
There seems to be general agreement that the steep slide in the global economy and financial markets is slowing down. There’s little consensus, though, on what happens next.
It’s still about jobs, jobs, jobs. Until the employment market starts showing signs of improvement, it will cast a pall over any “green shoots” of growth poking up through the destruction left by the worst economic meltdown since the Great Depression.
Job losses overshadow signs of recoveryDespite hopeful signs among this week's economic data, the recovery from the worst downturn in decades remains hostage to the high jobless rate. By msnbc.com's John W. Schoen.
Optimism about a recovery starting to fizzleSome investors and market watchers say the stock market may have overestimated the prospects for an economic rebound - and share prices could be due for a big pullback.
Americans working much harder - for less payFeel like you're working a lot harder for the same pay - or even less? A new round of government data indicates that you probably are.By msnbc.com's John W. Schoen.
Recession's job losses may take years to recoupThere's growing optimism about signs of life in the economy as the pace of job losses slows. But this recovery - when it comes - won't feel like any in memory. By John W Schoen.
Stimulus spending faces red tape bottlenecksThe $787 billion stimulus package was supposed to help revive the economy and create new jobs. But, so far, it doesn't seem to be working out that way. By John W. Schoen.
Jobless consumers will hold back recoveryMany forecasters now expect the U.S. economy to begin growing later this year. But it probably won't feel like a recovery for most people. By John W. Schoen.
Financial reform still in the early inningsThe Obama administration's proposed financial regulations now face the same scrutiny, backlash and political infighting that has hampered reforms after a decade of deregulation.
Job market damage remains deep, widespreadThe worst of the collapse in the job market may be over. But it will take well into next year -and possibly longer - before the jobless rate falls to levels seen before the recession began.
What's the tab for the bailout? Take your pickAs the financial crisis has deepened, msnbc.com set out to tally how much money the federal government has thrown at the problem. Turns out it's not as simple as it looks.
Geithner makes his case on Sunday news showsTreasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said Sunday there's about $135 billion left in bailout funds and that, if more is needed, "we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
Treasury faces battle in bid for broad powersAs Congress and the White House begin getting down to details in solving the financial crisis, reacing consensus is getting more and more difficult.
Treasury's latest plan faces pitfallsThe Treasury's latest plan to bail out the banking system faces hurdles that have plagued the similar plans since October. The biggest question remains: Will it work?
Think job losses won't get worse? Think againForecasters say even if the economy begins to slowly recover later this year, jobs losses may continue until well into 2010. By John W. Schoen.
Job market could remain bleak for yearsEven with a huge government spending program, it could take years to create enough new jobs to for everyone who wants one, economists say.
Stimulus would help, but maybe not enoughAn economic stimulus package that includes one-time "rebate" checks to taxpayers would certainly help household budgets. But it's not clear how much it would help the economy.
In a weak economy, a weak dollar is betterWould the U.S. economy be better off if the mighty dollar weren't so mighty?
Recession or depression? Too early to tellEconomists think things will get better this year. But no one really knows. So what are the odds that we're the early stages of what will eventually become another Great Depression?
Geithner faces tough questions on taxes, TARPTreasury Secretary-nominee Timothy Geithner faces questions about back taxes as� Congress voices opposition to the $700 billion financial bailout in which he played a key role.
U.S. deficit impact could be felt for decadesA grim report from congressional analysts showing the government deficit swelling to $1.2 trillion� this year� has many taxpayers wondering: How much longer can we keep this up?
Is this stock market rally for real?With the stock market up 25 percent from November lows, a lot of individual investors are asking: Is this rally for real?
In a weak economy, a weak dollar is betterWould the U.S. economy be better off if the mighty dollar weren't so mighty?
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