UNEMPLOYMENT

Unemployment is down, but so is the financial position of job-finders. The New York City L train is shut too many weekends for piecemeal repairs, while desperately needed infrastructure needs go unmet. It's hurting small Williamsburg shops--and speaks to the proper role of government.

Employment growth picked up speed in November and the jobless rate dropped to a 2-1/2 year low of 8.6 percent, further evidence the economic recovery was gaining momentum.

The euro rose for a fifth straight session against the dollar on Friday, bolstered by speculation that the European Central Bank may lend to weak euro zone countries through the International Monetary Fund.

U.S. added more jobs in November and jobless rate fell unexpectedly to the lowest point since March 2009. Revised data show that hiring in early fall grew faster than initially reported. All signs indicate a moderate recovery in the labor market.

Employment growth picked up speed in November and the jobless rate dropped to a 2-1/2 year low of 8.6 percent, further evidence the economic recovery was gaining momentum.

Stock index futures rose sharply on Friday after a report the European Central Bank was gearing up to lend money to the International Monetary Fund in a bid to ease the Eurozone debt crisis.

Asian stocks are set for their first weekly rise in a month buoyed by coordinated central bank actions, while the euro held on to hefty gains before European policymakers make a fresh stab to tackle its crisis at a summit next week.

Michele Bachmann had yet another oops moment on Nov. 30 when she argued that she would remove the U.S. embassy from Iran if she were president. The problem? America hasn't had an embassy in Iran since 1980. Here, watch the GOP presidential hopeful's top ten gaffes, from her confusion about Libya to the founding fathers.

Congressional Republicans on Wednesday proposed an extended pay freeze for federal workers' wages as a counter to Democrats' proposal to fund a payroll tax holiday with a marginal tax rate increase.

U.S. crude futures fell back on Thursday after government data showed that new filings for jobless benefits unexpectedly rose last week to their highest level since late October, a bad sign for oil demand. Oil traded down $1.01 to $99.41 per barrel on Thursday at mid-day.

New claims for unemployment benefits rose unexpectedly last week, popping above 400,000 for the first time in just over a month and reinforcing the view that the battered labor market was healing only slowly.

New claims for unemployment benefits rose unexpectedly last week, popping above 400,000 for the first time in just over a month and reinforcing the view that the battered labor market was healing only slowly.

European shares fell in choppy trade on Thursday after data showed new U.S. claims for unemployment benefits rose unexpectedly last week, with some investors booking profits after equities jumped 9 percent in the previous four sessions.

Latest data on the number of Americans who filed new applications for federal unemployment benefits rose for a second straight week and once again moved above the key 400,000 mark -- the level at which some economists take to mean the economy has to add more jobs than it is shedding. The labor market is still weak, even during the holiday season.

Reportedly, there are now about 10,000 homeless people on the streets of the capital Budapest alone.

New claims for unemployment benefits rose unexpectedly last week, popping above 400,000 for the first time in just over a month and reinforcing the view that the battered labor market was healing only slowly.

New claims for unemployment benefits rose unexpectedly last week, popping above 400,000 for the first time in just over a month and reinforcing the view that the battered labor market was healing only slowly.

Wells Fargo Securities said California's labor market has shown some encouraging signs of improvement over the past three months, though jobs creation for much of the year has been a hit-or-miss venture.

A gradual broadening and strengthening of U.S. growth should cushion the American economy against severe damage from the storms in Europe, unless a financial meltdown causes global havoc.

Leon Cooperman sent a straightforward and scathing letter to President Obama Monday calling for reform and more accountability from President Obama calling for reform and more accountability from the administration.

Private sector job growth accelerated in November as employers created the most jobs in nearly a year, prompting some economists to raise their forecasts for Friday's more comprehensive government labor report.