The US economy added a better-than-expected 204,000 jobs in October, according to the latest figures from the Labor Department. There had been fears that the 16-day shutdown of government services last month could have hit jobs growth.
The US economy added a net 195,000 new jobs in June, official figures show. The figure was well above economists' expectations of 165,000. Revisions to data for April and May added a further 70,000 jobs to previous estimates. This means the jobless rate remained steady at 7.6% of the workforce, according to data from the Bureau of Labour Statistics.
The US economy grew at a faster than expected 0.4% in the fourth quarter of 2012, the Department of Commerce has said. The annualised figure was better than an earlier estimate of 0.1% growth, reflecting increased investments in plant and equipment.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke admitted speaking to President Barack Obama about his future and that he feels no personal responsibility to stay at the helm until the Fed winds down its unprecedented policies to stimulate the US economy.
US President Barack Obama has signed into effect a wave of steep spending cuts which he has warned could damage the US economy. The cuts - known as the sequester and drawn up two years ago will take 85bn dollars from the US federal budget this year.
Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke has defended the central bank's measures to bolster the US economy. Brazil has said US monetary easing to keep interest rates low and weaken the dollar has hurt emerging economies. And IMF chief Christine Lagarde warned on Sunday of consequent asset bubbles developing in emerging nations.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke delivered a broad defence on Monday of the central bank's controversial bond-buying stimulus plan, saying its actions are necessary to support a flagging economic recovery.
The US Congress budget office launched on Wednesday a stern warning: massive spending cuts and tax hikes due next year will cause even worse economic damage than previously thought if Washington fails to come up with a solution.
The Federal Reserve is likely to deliver another round of monetary stimulus “fairly soon” unless the economy improves considerably, minutes from the US central bank's August meeting show.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said that although broad measurements of the United States economy point to recovery, many people and businesses are facing tough times.