The Economy's Gloomy December Start
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BusinessWeek Online - November ended with a volley of unfriendly data for the U.S. economy, and it looks as if December is starting out the same way. Weakness in U.S. economic reports released on Dec. 1 concerning the Institute for Supply Management's factory sentiment index, and construction spending -- following the weak releases on durable goods orders, the Chicago purchasing managers' sentiment index, and initial jobless claims earlier in the week -- have taken a big chunk out of the near-term U.S. GDP outlook. But the reports probably won't move the Federal Reserve from its current policy path.
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Major U.S. retailers on Thursday reported gloomy sales for the critical December shopping season, while a separate report showed new claims for jobless benefits fell unexpectedly in the latest week, somewhat easing concerns of a weakening job market.
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If anyone is looking for signs that we may be headed into a recession, look no further than the dismal December sales results turned in by the nation's retailers.
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A limited easing of security tensions raises hopes for a better Christmas.
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U.S. retailers posted weak sales growth in December, as snow storms, discounts and economic uncertainty conspired to make the 2007 holiday shopping season the worst in 5 years.
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Retailers reported mostly gloomy December sales results, hurt by snowstorms as well as deep discounting aimed at getting cash-strapped consumers to open their wallets during retail's most important month.
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Economists anticipate sluggish job numbers for December, and some think the markets will react favorably.
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German business morale worsened in December to its lowest since January 2006, hit by a drop in firms' assessment of current business conditions that leaves Europe's largest economy looking weak going into 2008.
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Business & money: December fall is first time in two years the Land Registry has reported a negative monthly change
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The economy lost momentum heading into the new year as shoppers tightened their belts and manufacturers were stung by weak demand for cars and housing-related goods.
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The weakest holiday shopping season in five years ended dismally for most retailers, stoking fears that the economy is tipping into a recession.
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The value of Canadian factory shipments  dipped unexpectedly in December in another sign that the once  booming economy is starting to weaken under the weight of a  strong currency.
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The nationâs big retail chains, a closely watched barometer of economic health, reported dreary December sales, which may stoke fears of a recessionary downtown.
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U.S. retail sales fell unexpectedly in December to close out the weakest year at the cash register since 2002, data showed on Tuesday, the strongest signal yet that the economy may be sliding into recession under the weight of a housing and credit crisis.
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The major U.S. stock indexes headed into December on a sour note today, amid glum news from the manufacturing and construction sectors, mixed sales results from automakers and higher oil prices.
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Holiday shoppers were not spending as freely as expected, causing worry for many economists and investors.
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The economy grew at a 0.7 percent annual rate in the first three months of this year, the weakest in more than four years.