Consumers battered by a slumping housing market and a credit crunch slowed the growth in spending to the smallest amount in four months. In another sign of weakness, construction activity fell by a larger-than-expected amount. ...more

December 1, 2007

Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke on Thursday hinted that another interest rate cut may be needed to bolster the economy. The worsening credit crunch, a deepening housing slump and rising energy prices probably will create some "headwinds for the consumer in the months ahead," he said. ...more

November 30, 2007

The economy grew at a slower pace in the late fall as shoppers watched their pennies heading into the busy holiday season. ...more

November 29, 2007

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke moved Wednesday to break down even further the aura of secrecy that historically has enshrouded the institution that sets interest rates, taking steps to keep Main Street and Wall Street more closely wired to decisions that can make or break lives and businesses. ...more

November 15, 2007

When gasoline prices first hit $3 a gallon in 2005, irate lawmakers quickly assembled top oil executives for a public grilling. ...more

November 14, 2007

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Thursday that economic growth will slow noticeably in coming months while surging oil costs will raise inflation pressures. But he said the economy is nowhere close to the stagflation nightmare of the 1970s and he predicted an economic rebound by mid-2008. ...more

November 9, 2007

Former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan said rising oil prices will lead businesses and consumers worldwide to use less fossil fuel and increase their use of alternative energy sources. ...more

November 8, 2007

Ivy Zelman's view of the U.S. housing market is gloomy, but it's probably the most realistic. ...more

October 26, 2007

Faced with soaring oil prices, a falling dollar and the worst credit crisis in nearly a decade, the masters of global finance have a simple message for jittery markets: Be calm, we are keeping an eye on things. ...more

October 21, 2007

A deepening housing slump probably will be a 'significant drag' on economic growth into next year and it will take time for Wall Street to fully recover from a painful credit crisis, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke warned Monday. ...more

October 16, 2007