UNEMPLOYMENT

The pace of growth in the services sector ticked down unexpectedly in July to the lowest level since February 2010, while the number of jobs created by the private sector also slowed, separate reports showed on Wednesday.

Congress has done the urgent -- passed the U.S. debt deal to help eliminate the budget deficit. But what about an equally important U.S. problem: the jobs deficit?

President Barack Obama will be celebrating his 50th birthday Wednesday night at Chicago's classy Aragon Ballroom, and he's looking for a specific type of present for the midlife milestone: campaign contributions.

President Barack Obama will fly to his hometown in Chicago on Wed. to celebrate his 50th birthday party at two fundraisers for Democrats.

Would distributing $3,000 gift cards to every American over age 16 get the U.S. economy out of its slump, and create more jobs? The tactic is unconventional, but if the economy doesn't start creating more jobs soon, Congressional leaders may have to implement the unconventional.

With more than 14 million people out of work, consumer spending falling by the day, the GDP growth outlook remaining grim and rising inflation denting confidence of ordinary people, a massive spending cut of more than $2 trillion would be the proverbial last straw on the camel's back.

Moody's Investors Service on Tuesday confirmed its Aaa rating of the United States, citing the decision to raise the debt limit, but assigned a negative outlook that could pressure lawmakers to cut the U.S. deficit.

North Africans are flocking to Italy and Europe in large numbers, testing the continents infrastructure.

South Africa said it would push Wal-Mart to rejig the conditions of its $2.4 billion Massmart deal, as Pretoria looks to wring bigger concessions from the world's top retailer.

The Senate Tuesday easily passed the debt deal bill, 76-24, and immediately sent it to President Barack Obama, who is expected to sign it very soon. When the president does, the world's largest and most-technologically advanced economy will have averted a credit market-constraining default and ended a bitter political chapter.

In the tough economy, people are buying less Coors beer. Molson Coors Brewing Co. said Tuesday weak sales hurt quarterly profits, citing weak economic conditions, sentiment that was underscored hours later when the U.S. Commerce Department released figures show consumer gains combined with rising fuel costs prompted Americans to pinch dollars more tightly -- and beer was apparently one of the items cut.

The U.S. is one Senate vote away from averting a federal government default and toward taking a step in the direction of fiscal health: The Senate is expected to vote and pass the bipartisan debt deal legislation Tuesday around noon EDT, and President Barack Obama is expected to sign it quickly.

Medicare payments to nursing homes would now be slashed 11.1 percent beginning October 1, 2011. This has led to the health care sector witnessing the first triggers of Medicare hospital reimbursement cuts in lieu of raising the federal debt ceiling.

The debt-ceiling deal hammered out by the Republicans and the Democrats in the Capitol has averted the risk of calamitous cuts in federal spending, while ensuring failure to service debt will not arise. However, analysts say some big questions remain to be answered.

U.S. media giants are set to report quarterly revenue gains on the back of a booming advertising market that shows little sign of retreating.

On Monday HSBC announced intentions to lay off 30,000 employees by 2013, a move that Goldman Sachs indirectly caused, says one professor.

Is the Republican Party serving the national interest? Or a narrow, special interest?

President Barack Obama will continue to push for an extension of the payroll tax cut despite that not being part of a deficit-cutting deal reached by lawmakers, the White House said on Monday.

High inflation and soaring real estate prices have thrown thousands of residents into dire straits.

In the rush to strike a debt deal to raise the debt ceiling and avoid a U.S. Government default, one question has been overlooked: will the debt deal increase or decrease the U.S. unemployment rate?

Technology is increasingly displacing the need for workers worldwide. Foxconn, making of Apple's iPhones and iPads, plans to add one million robots to factories in the next three years. HSBC is cutting out "unnecessary bureaucracy" in eliminating 30,000 jobs.