United States
United StatesFed minutes reveal differences on interest rates cuts
Nine of Federal Reserve directors thought continued deterioration in financial markets and weakened economic conditions in the housing and labor markets needed the half percentage point cut to the discount rate last month.
Greenspan comes out in support of Sovereign Funds
Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said on Monday any United States resistance to sovereign wealth funds investing in the world's largest economy would be “counter-productive.”
Fed forecasts less US growth and higher unemployment
The US Federal Reserve has slashed its growth forecast for the US economy and raised its forecast for unemployment. The Fed cut its growth forecast for this year by half a percent to a new range of between 1.3% and 2%. The US central bank also said the jobless rate could be as high as 5.3% by the end of the year.
Undercover video forces massive recall of beef in California
The United States Department of Agriculture on Sunday ordered the recall of approximately 64.000 tons of beef from a Southern California slaughterhouse that is the subject of an animal-abuse investigation.
Identity theft, main US consumer fraud for 7 years running
Identity theft for the seventh year in a row topped in 2007 the list of consumer fraud complaints recorded by the United States Federal Trade Commission, FTC. The list contained in the publication “Consumer Fraud and Identity Theft Complaint Data January-December 2007,” showed that of 813,899 total complaints received in 2007, 258,427, or 32% were related to identity theft.
Fed admits outlook for US economy “has worsened”
United States Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke told Congress on Thursday that the US economic outlook had deteriorated but pointed out that the Fed will “act in a timely manner”.
US 2007 trade deficit narrows for first time in six years
The US trade deficit narrowed in 2007 after five years of consecutive records, pushed by exports that helped offset the country's large growth in oil imports and trade gap with China. The deficit reached 711.6 billion US dollars in 2007, down from 758.5 billion in 2006, a 6.2% decline the Commerce Department said.
Bush optimistic about the US economy; 2.7% growth in 2008
President George Bush said the fundamentals of the U.S. economy are strong, but admitted the country is going through a period of economic uncertainty. However Bush underlined that the 152 billion US dollars stimulus package he will sign into law Wednesday will provide a much needed boost.
Global stock market losses in Jan reach 5.2 trillion US dollars
Fears of a global slowdown triggered by US housing market problems wiped 5.2 trillion US dollars off global stock markets in January, analysts estimate. According to ratings firm Standard and Poor's, 50 out of 52 share indexes around the world ended the month lower. (5.2 trillion is equivalent to two GDP of France).
US stimulus package passed but political system at its lowest
United States President George Bush announced on Friday that the will sign a 168 billion US dollars economic stimulus package approved by the Senate that he said is needed to help boost the slowing economy. The announcement came as an AP-Ipso public opinion poll revealed an all time low support for President Bush and the US Congress.
