manufacturing

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NAFTA Casts Wide Shadow on Ohio Vote

Clinton, Obama look to score points bashing trade pact

(Newser) - As Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama battle for votes in Ohio, each pushes a simple theme: NAFTA is bad. Ohio has been hit hard by free trade, which is why Obama reminds voters that Bill Clinton backed NAFTA. And both hopefuls have mined each other's comments for anything that favors...

Made in Italy — in a Chinese Sweatshop

Italian luxury goods made by Chinese labor cost 90% less

(Newser) - For consumers of luxury goods, the "Made in Italy" designation remains so prestigious that it can add 300% to an item's price. But the days of artisans plying their trade in little workshops are largely over, the Los Angeles Times reports, replaced by thousands of Tuscan factories employing Chinese...

Consumer Sentiment Nosedives
Consumer Sentiment Nosedives
Feb 15, 2008 11:10 AM CST

Consumer Sentiment Nosedives

Economic reports continue to fan recession fears

(Newser) - The last time consumers were this pessimistic, the country was in the midst of recession. The consumer confidence index is at a level not seen since February 1992, according to Reuters/University of Michigan numbers out today, and "has only been this low during the recessions of the mid 1970s,...

Looking for a Real Recession? Try Japan

Once-booming economy stumbles, yet people are 'indifferent'

(Newser) - While economists squabble over a possible US recession, Japan has quietly slipped into one. The country’s postwar riches have all but vanished, the Washington Post reports, as its GDP tumbles from fourth to twentieth among the world’s countries and its share of the world’s economy dips from...

Dow Plummets 306.95 Points
Dow Plummets 306.95 Points
MARKETS
Jan 17, 2008 3:42 PM CST

Dow Plummets 306.95 Points

Manufacturing, home starts news send markets way down

(Newser) - The Dow plunged 306.95 points to 12.159.21 today, its third straight sell-off and worst loss of the new year, as rough numbers put investors in a bearish mood. The key index has now fallen more than 1,000 points since 2008 began. Merrill Lynch posted a huge...

Market Plummets to Start Year
Market Plummets to Start Year
MARKETS
Jan 2, 2008 3:28 PM CST

Market Plummets to Start Year

Weak manufacturing, surging oil prices sink stocks

(Newser) - The Dow fell 214.11 to 13,050.71 today, giving 2008 its first record: biggest point drop to start a year. Climbing commodity prices and poor manufacturing readings led the sharp 1.7% decline, and spiking crude oil futures sealed the bearish day. One strategist fretted over the Institute...

Durable Goods Numbers Disappoint; Businesses Fret

It's a sign that - say it with me now - housing woes could be spreading

(Newser) - Durable good sales rose just 0.1% in November, a lower-than-expected bump after October’s 0.4% drop, Bloomberg reports. Analysts had forecast a 3% rise. Take out transportation, including stellar airline sales, and sales fell 0.7%.  It’s another sign the economy is slowing down and businesses...

Quality Boosts US Exports
Quality Boosts US Exports
Dec 26, 2007 12:55 PM CST

Quality Boosts US Exports

Experts credit weak dollar, manufacturing know-how for surge

(Newser) - The sinking dollar is fueling a booming export market in tractors, medical equipment, and electrical machinery, helping some US manufacturers overcome a falloff in domestic sales, reports the Washington Post. The trend may even help reduce the trade deficit: For 2007, US exports are projected to increase even more than...

Don't Blame China for Toy Recalls: Study

75% stem from design flaws, not manufacturing

(Newser) - Don't blame China for soaring toy recalls, a new Canuck study says; the problem is design. "If you are going to get into a finger-pointing game, you should point it mostly on the design side," said a Canadian prof. "It has got nothing to do with China....

US Lost Jobs for First Time in 4 Years

August payroll drop shows subprime crisis affecting economy

(Newser) - In the first drop since 2003, the US lost 4,000 jobs in August, surprising experts and putting more pressure on the Fed to reduce rates at its upcoming meeting. Economists had predicted an increase of 100,000 or more jobs. The decline in employment is the clearest signal to...

US Laborers Work Hard for the Money

New UN report says Americans more productive than peers

(Newser) - Labor Day is a well-deserved rest for Americans, as a new UN report shows US laborers work longer, harder, and get more done than their counterparts worldwide. The average US worker produces the most wealth, raking in $63,885 yearly, followed by Irish laborers at $55,986. Only Norway beat...

Jobless Rate Rises While GDP Rebounds

Economic growth balances looming threat of inflation

(Newser) - The unemployment rate increased slightly in the second quarter, but the GDP recovered after a lackluster first quarter, providing Wall Street with a mixed report card of the nation’s economy as the Fed meets to determine interest rates. Unemployment ticked up 0.1% to 4.6%, hastened by losses...

Stories 81 - 92 | << Prev