China vows to make its currency more flexible after US criticism

SHANGHAI: China on Wednesday pledged to make its exchange rate more "flexible", a day after the United States said the yuan was undervalued, though it declined to name Beijing a currency manipulator.

Obama tries to fill Fed board - again

EW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Contentious politics have left the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors operating without a full roster for more than five years. Now, President Obama will again try to fill the board's two open seats.

Economy: Faster U.S. growth predicted for 2012

Washington -The U.S. economy will grow faster in 2012 - if it isn't knocked off track by upheavals in Europe, according to an Associated Press survey of leading economists.

Local economic officials say outlook brighter for 2012

Statesville officials are hopeful that 2012 will bring the same steady economic recovery as the previous year.

Economic recovery slow for nonprofits

As the first signs of an economic recovery make the news, many of the nation's nonprofit organizations are digging in for another three to four years of financial distress, according to researchers who keep an eye on the charitable world.

UK economic growth revised up to 0.6%

The UK economy grew by 0.6% between July and September, official figures have shown, faster than previous estimates of 0.5%.

US economic growth to remain slow in 2012: Experts

The US economy is projected to grow at a slow pace because of ongoing challenges, American experts said on Monday.

Jump in housing starts points to recovery

(Reuters) - Housing starts and building permits jumped to a 1-1/2 year high in November as demand for rental apartments rose, suggesting the housing market was entering a tentative recovery.

Analysts Say Economic Recovery Might Suffer if Tax Break Is Allowed to Expire

WASHINGTON — Economists are warning that the looming expiration of a temporary payroll tax cut — and the possibility that Congress will not extend it — would cause families to spend less and could sap strength from a fragile recovery.

New Data Offers Some Positive Signs for the Recovery

WASHINGTON (Reuters) — The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits fell to a 3 1/2-year low last week, and factory activity in parts of the Northeast gained speed in December, suggesting a further strengthening of the economic recovery.

Bernanke worries Europe's woes will spill into U.S.

WASHINGTON (CNNMoney) -- Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke told Republican senators on Capitol Hill on Wednesday that he's concerned about European sovereign debt problems spilling over to the U.S. economy, according to senators.

US economy to continue its slow, uneven recovery over the next few months: CEOs

Chief executives expect the US economy to continue its slow, uneven recovery over the next few months and are concerned about the rising costs of raw materials and the expense of complying with regulations, according to a survey released Wednesday.

Confidence Among German Investors Unexpectedly Rose in December: Economy

German investor confidence unexpectedly rose for the first time in 10 months in December, indicating Europe’s largest economy is weathering the region’s debt crisis.

Gold Prices Struggle to Stay Near $1, 700

Gold prices fell Wednesday on negative economic news from China and Europe plus concerns that the world's No. 1 economy is barely advancing.

Consumer sentiment up, trade gap narrows

(Reuters) - An index of consumer sentiment rose to its highest in six months in early December and the trade deficit narrowed in October in the latest signs that the U.S. economy's health is slowly improving.

EU Leaders Forge Fiscal Pact

BRUSSELS—European Union leaders Friday agreed to forge ahead with a new deal on economic governance without the support of the U.K., but they again balked at marshalling the large sums experts believe will be necessary to ensure financing for Italy and Spain and prevent a collapse of the euro zone.

Economic forecast: Job growth could double in 2012

PHOENIX — Arizonans waiting for that long-promised economic recovery are going to have to cool their heels for a few more years.

USC forecast: Economy still fragile, but more jobs

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina's economy is stable but will remain fragile through the coming year, with employment expected to inch upward 2 percent, University of South Carolina economic experts said Wednesday.

Experts predict slow economic recovery

Employment is the factor that drives the economy, and based on the latest labor and housing statistics, it will be some time before there is a long-term rebound, a panel of experts told attendees of a Business Council of Fairfield County breakfast Friday at the Sheraton Stamford Hotel.

Nevada leaders predict economic recovery, unemployed disagree as work force shrinks

LAS VEGAS — Donna West could once name the homeowners on her affluent Las Vegas street. Then came the recession, the vacant homes, and the parade of anonymous renters.

Croats Vote Fixed on Economic Recovery, Corruption Fight

Dec. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Croatians voted in an election likely to replace Premier Jadranka Kosor with an opposition bloc that will have to adopt economic changes and root out graft to lead the country out of a recession and into the European Union.

Economic insecurity rising, new indicator shows

More than one in five Americans experienced economic insecurity during the recession, meaning they had an economic loss without an adequate safety net to replace that loss, according to a new report from the Rockefeller Foundation. The report also found that economic insecurity has been rising since even before the recession.

Payroll tax cuts key to recovery: White House

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Allowing payroll tax cuts to expire would hurt the U.S. economy and further dent hiring, and may make the United States more vulnerable to outside shocks, President Barack Obama's top economist said on Tuesday.