United States

• Friday, February 15th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  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”.

• Friday, February 15th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  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.

• Tuesday, February 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  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.

• Tuesday, February 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  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).

• Friday, February 8th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  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.

• Wednesday, February 6th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  US dollar no longer king of currencies, not even in NY

  

  In the latest example that the U.S. dollar is not what it used to be some shops in New York City have begun accepting Euros and other foreign currencies as payment for merchandise.

• Tuesday, February 5th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Wall Street: Not-So-Super Tuesday Dow Plunges 370 Points

  

  Stocks slumped for a second straight session Tuesday after Wall Street saw an unexpected contraction in the service sector as evidence that the economy is sinking into recession. The Dow Jones industrial average fell more than 350 points, while bond prices rose.

• Monday, February 4th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  US campaign frenzy ahead of 'Super Tuesday' vote

  

  Exhausted White House hopefuls launched one last frenzied day of campaigning before a 24-state “Super Tuesday” - the biggest one-day White House nominating contest in history.

• Sunday, February 3rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Recession in the air: first decline in US jobs since August 2003

  United States has seen the first decline in employment since August 2003, providing fresh evidence that the US economy could be entering a recession. Employers cut 17,000 jobs from their payrolls in January, Labor Department figures showed. Economists had been expecting a rise of 80,000.

• Friday, February 1st 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Obama, Clinton smooth over spats in Hollywood debate

  

  The historic choice for the Democratic presidential nominee came into clear focus at the final Democratic debate Thursday between the two candidates left standing - Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton - who smoothed over their recent spats and turned most of their attacks on Republicans.