UNEMPLOYMENT

The number of mass layoffs by U.S. employers rose in April led by manufacturers who shed workers even as the economy began to recover.

New claims for state jobless benefits unexpectedly rose last week for the first time since early April, suggesting the labor market recovery may have hit a speed bump.

New claims for state jobless benefits unexpectedly rose last week for the first time since early April, suggesting the U.S. labor market recovery may have hit a speed bump.

The number of workers filing new applications for unemployment insurance unexpectedly rose last week for the first time since early April, government data showed on Thursday, dealing a blow to the labor market recovery.

Consumer prices fell for the first time in a year last month and the closely watched core inflation rate posted its smallest annual gain since 1966, pointing to a lack of price pressure as the economic recovery gathers steam.

With the rapid onset of the worldwide recession in late 2008, marked by sharp drops in commodity prices that continued till 2009 marked notable implications on base metals, where the global mergers and acquisitions activities came almost to a halt.

U.S. retail sales rose and industrial production powered ahead in April, further evidence the economic recovery was strengthening and broadening out.

U.S. consumer sentiment edged up in May from April, in line with forecasts, while one-year inflation expectations were at their highest since June 2009.

The number of workers filing for jobless benefits fell only slightly last week, suggesting the unemployment rate will remain elevated even as recovery in the labor market builds steam.

The number of U.S. workers filing for jobless benefits fell only slightly last week, suggesting the unemployment rate will remain elevated even as recovery in the labor market becomes entrenched.

Although price pressures in the U.S. economy are currently muted, inflation could accelerate in the United States in the next three to five years, the world's biggest bond fund management company said on Thursday.

The number of U.S. workers filing new applications for unemployment insurance fell slightly less than expected last week, government data showed on Thursday, while the number of people still drawing benefits unexpectedly rose.

The number of U.S. workers filing for jobless benefits fell only slightly last week, highlighting the challenges facing the labor market, while import prices pointed to tame inflation, according to government data released on Thursday.

U.S. payroll numbers may be starting to improve, but leaders from a cross-section of manufacturing and transportation companies said this week they remain reluctant to hire too many workers too soon.

U.S. hirings touched their highest level in 15 months in March, while job openings also rose, according to a government report on Tuesday that confirmed a recovery in the labor market was gaining traction.

New York City's recession likely will linger for the average resident, though technical indicators suggest both the nation and the city have turned the corner, the Fiscal Policy Institute reported on Tuesday.

Employment grew at the fastest pace in four years in April as businesses ramped up hiring, suggesting the economic recovery was growing less dependent on government support.

New data showing the economy added 290,000 jobs in April is the strongest sign yet the labor market is healing, but the high unemployment rate is still cause for concern, a senior Obama administration official said on Friday.

U.S. stocks fell on Friday as worry persisted about a financial meltdown stemming from the European debt crisis and after a dramatic intraday drop in indexes in the previous session.

U.S. employment grew at the fastest pace in four years in April as private sector businesses ramped up hiring, showing the labor market recovery gaining steam.

U.S. nonfarm payrolls likely grew for a second month in April as the government's census hiring picked up and private employment rose modestly, signs a gradual labor market recovery is building.