UNEMPLOYMENT

Claims for jobless benefits fell for a third straight week to the lowest level since March 2008, when the U.S. was in the early stages of a recession. This could signal the labor market is gaining momentum.

The eurozone finance ministers have demanded greater supervision and control of Greece's economy in return for the approval of bailout package.

Asian shares and the euro fell Thursday as another delay in cementing a crucial bailout for stricken Greece underscored how far Europe is from resolving a debt crisis that threatens the stability of the financial system.

Negotiators Wednesday evening reached a sweeping tax cut deal that provides a victory to President Barack Obama and his fellow Democrats in Congress and frees Republicans of an issue that threatened to stalk them to the November elections.

U.S. lawmakers Wednesday reached a sweeping tax cut deal that provides a victory to Democrats and frees Republicans of an issue that threatened to stalk them to the November elections.

Even though he is performing poorly in polls, President Sarkozy announced Wednesday he will seek another term.

In country after country in Europe the so-called bitter pill approach has been wholeheartedly embraced as the only solution by both conservative and leftwing governments. Problem is, it's looking more and more likely that they're wrong: as a strategy, austerity has by and large failed.

Federal Reserve policymakers are turning to cars to illustrate just how split they are over what, if anything, to do about the U.S. economy, with some eying the brake pedal and others the gas.

Greece is currently straddling the knife's edge of crisis, as a deeply unpopular decision by the country's political leadership to impose painful economic austerity measures on the populace to receive a bailout from foreign creditors has not achieved its desired results. Pictures of life in the nervous country.

Unemployment in Britain stayed relatively flat at the end of 2011, rising its smallest amount in nearly a year between the months of November and December. Compared to the rest of Europe, the UK is right in the middle.

President Barack Obama, in his new $3.8 trillion budget proposal for 2013, called for taxes on the wealthiest Americans, a reduction in the national deficit and adequate funding for education.

Eurozone finance ministers Wednesday scrapped a planned meeting to be held in Brussels that they had called to approve the new bailout and a related debt restructuring plan.

U.S. lawmakers reached a tentative deal on Tuesday on legislation aimed at boosting the economy by extending a payroll tax cut for 160 million workers through this year and continuing long-term jobless benefits, congressional aides said.

U.S. lawmakers were close to a deal Tuesday on legislation that would boost the economy in the short term by extending a payroll tax cut for 160 million workers through this year and continue long-term jobless benefits, congressional aides said.

Euro zone finance ministers dropped plans on Tuesday for a special face-to-face meeting on Greece's new international bailout, as the cabinet in Athens argued up to the last minute on plugging a 325 million euro ($427 million)gap in its austerity plan.

President Barack Obama urged Americans to pressure their lawmakers in Washington to pass a payroll tax cut extension.

Sales at U.S. retailers climbed slightly in January as Americans took advantage of post-holiday promotions, and although Tuesday's data fell short of economists' median projection, it still provided yet another hopeful sign of a strengthening economy.

The European Union is likely to take action against Spain's newly installed government by May for delaying austerity measures ahead of a regional election next month, sources familiar with the situation told Reuters.

The U.S. Federal Reserve should do all it can to reduce very high unemployment and bring inflation back up to more desirable levels, a top Fed official said on Monday.

Shares of Apple Inc. (AAPL) gained 1.86 percent during the day to close at $502.60 Monday after hitting a record $503.83 shortly after the opening bell.

Greek political leaders say the nation must accept yet more punishing austerity or face a social explosion, but after a night of violence and destruction in Athens, some people fear this explosion may already be about to begin.