UNEMPLOYMENT

As early as the 1980s, fault lines began to appear in Europe's economy and the global financial crisis tore them wide open. Now, Europe perhaps faces its greatest economic challenges since WWII.

The Great Recession has seen joblessness soar in the U.S. One overlooked segment of the population, the Native Americans (or American Indians) have also suffered from rising unemployment.

Full-text of speech by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke at the sixth European Central Bank Central Banking Conference, in Frankfurt, Germany , on Nov. 19, 2010.

An Agricultural commodity price rally in the U.S. will help the wobbly recovery in three ways - by boosting inflation a tad and narrowing the worrying trade deficit by a whisker, while not hardening enough to snuff out the fledgling recovery.

Silver and palladium futures posted sharper gains on Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) on Friday after stronger than expected data from the world's largest economy on Thursday weakened the US dollar and increased investment appeal for risky assets.

Rubber futures rallied on Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) on Friday, on expectations China may top off its stocks and on continued supply concerns.

Regional manufacturing activity in Philadelphia improved during November, according to the Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index, which touched its highest reading since Dec. 2009.

Retail sales in October picked up pace, and brightened the outlook for year-end shopping as purchases rose 1.2%, the highest in the last seven months.

The University of Michigan forecasts the U.S. economic recovery to be sluggish in the near term due to the weak jobs market, deleveraging, belt-tightening within state and local governments, and the still-felt impact of the housing collapse.

Stocks surged, buoyed by the successful huge initial public offering of General Motors (NYSE: GM), reports that the Republic of Ireland will receive a bailout to solve its troubled banking system and better-than-expected manufacturing activity data.

Two million long-term unemployed – those who have been seeking work for six months or longer – will lose their unemployment insurance benefits before the end of this year if Congress fails to act to maintain extended benefits.

As “Black Friday” approaches next week, U. S. retailers are expecting a strong holiday season – at least, compared to the dismal performance of the past two years.

U.S. initial jobless claims rose less-than-expected for the week ended Nov. 13, after falling sharply to a four month low in the previous week.

Boston Federal Reserve's Chairman Eric Rosengren defended the Fed's second round of quantitative easing, stating that it was necessary to avoid deflation and help unemployment. The fact that the U.S. Treasury yields have risen since the Federal Reserve announced a second round of quantitative easing does not mean that the QE2 is failing, Capital Economics said in a note.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said that economic activity in its member countries will gradually pick up steam over the coming two years, but the recovery will be uneven and unemployment will remain persistently high.

Sarah Palin, who announced her intent to run for the Presidential bid on Wednesday, seems to be reaching out to the American public in a rather tidy way. Her latest stint on reality TV, coupled with an unfaltering media management, could come along in her pursuit to the White House.

House Democrats re-elected Rep. Nancy Pelosi D-CA as their leader for the next Congress by a large margin on Wednesday as her challenger said the fragmented vote meant moderates should get a say in decision making.

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett praised the U.S. government for bailing out Wall Street and saving the U.S. economy during the height of the financial crisis.

Construction of new homes touched an 18-month low in October, falling much more than expected, according to a report by the U.S. Commerce Department.

Target Corp, the No.2 discount chain in U.S. behind Walmart, reported 23 percent rise in its quarterly profit as the retailer's attractive discount schemes have drawn more shoppers to its stores.

Yahoo, the once-mighty torch bearer for the Internet age, is shaking up it business strategies even as the company is bedeviled by job cuts, takeover speculation and a fall in share prices.