UNEMPLOYMENT

A new word has become more common the Obama administration's lexicon: veto. After three years spent cultivating the image of a middle ground-seeking compromiser-in-chief, the White House appears to have made a 180-degree turn. Three veto threats have been floated against major pieces of legislation. President Barack Obama suddenly refuses take any gruff from Congressional Republicans.

U.S. retail sales rose at the weakest pace in seven months in December and first-time claims for jobless benefits moved higher last week, signs the economic recovery is shaky despite a recent pick-up in growth.

The number of Americans applying for first-time jobless benefits rose in the latest week, reversing a recent decline and suggesting the labor market remains brittle.

U.S. 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rates fell to a new record low of 3.89 percent in the week ending Jan. 12, according to Freddie Mac.

Nobody, not the EU, the IMF nor the markets had any concerns about the Irish fiscal position prior to 2008.

The number of Americans filing for first-time unemployment benefits rose last week to the highest level in six weeks after a downtick in the week ended Dec. 31. The figure nearly surpassed a key threshold for gauging the job market, raising concerns about the U.S. employment situation without the help of holiday hiring.

The number of Americans applying for first-time jobless benefits rose on Thursday, reversing a recent decline and suggesting the labor market remains brittle.

Top Federal Reserve officials disagreed on Wednesday over how aggressive the central bank should be to spur faster growth and bring a lofty jobless rate down more quickly.

President Barack Obama plans to introduce a series of incentives to bring outsourced jobs back to America and increase domestic investment.

The U.S. Federal Reserve should stick to its super-easy monetary policy to fight unemployment and spur a painstakingly slow economic recovery, even if doing so pushes inflation temporarily higher, a top Fed official said on Wednesday.

Detroit's economy wasn't exactly in great standing before the housing bubble burst, before the automotive manufacturing that supports the community burst. It was already a case of haves, and have-nots. But when it all came crumbling down, with automakers slashing jobs and two filing for bankrtuptcy -- General Motors and Chrysler -- the shaky pedestal gave way.

Romney won a significant victory in New Hampshire Tuesday, carrying the open primary and becoming the first Republican to win both New Hampshire and Iowa in the primaries since 1976. But more remarkable than Romney's 2012 win is whose votes gave him the victory: Romney supporters crossed every demographic, from age brackets to ideological concerns.

One woman was killed on Tuesday when prospective students waiting outside the University of Johannesburg in South Africa stampeded to get into the school's admissions office.

Consumer credit surged in November by the most since October 2001, rising 10.0 percent on higher credit card debt and more student loans doled out by the government, a Federal Reserve report showed on Monday.

In a stadium packed with tens of thousands of dancing revelers, South Africa's ruling party, the African National Congress, celebrated its 100th anniversary Sunday, amid accusations that it has not delivered on its promises since taking power in 1994, namely resolving outstanding issues with poverty and unemployment.

Freddie Mac, the large federally controlled mortgage guarantor, announced that it would allow unemployed borrowers to delay mortgage payments for up to 12 months under a new plan.

Stock index futures edged higher on Monday as investors focused on a European meeting intended to find ways to boost the region's economies and tackle a debt crisis and prepared for the start of U.S. corporate earnings.

The German and French leaders meet on Monday to discuss ways to boost growth in euro zone states struggling to overcome the sovereign debt crisis and rising unemployment, and finalise a deal to increase fiscal coordination within the currency union.

The German and French leaders meet on Monday to discuss ways to boost growth in euro zone states struggling to overcome the sovereign debt crisis and rising unemployment, and finalise a deal to increase fiscal coordination within the currency union.

Signs the recovery is gaining strength suggest the Federal Reserve may not need to buy any more bonds to spur growth, a top policymaker said.

South African President Jacob Zuma led a purification ceremony at the site in Bloemfontein where the African National Congress was born 100 years ago. Many say the party needs cleansing itself.