AP - The number of newly laid off people filing claims for unemployment benefits bolted past 400,000 last week as companies trimmed their work forces to cope with a slowing economy and fallout from a collapsed housing market.

AFP - US home sales fell another 2.6 percent in June as inventories rose and prices fell with buyers still hesitant in the face of a horrific market slump, industry data showed Thursday.

AP - Sales of existing homes fell more sharply than expected in June as the housing industry continued to be bruised by the worst slump in more than two decades.

AP - Stocks skidded lower Thursday after a steeper-than-expected decline in existing home sales wiped away some of the market's optimism about upbeat earnings reports. The major indexes fell more than 1 percent, including the Dow Jones industrial average, which fell more than 200 points.

AP - Energy market investors tried but failed to start a rally in crude Thursday, and continued to drive natural gas prices sharply lower as a three-week sell-off of that fuel continued unabated.

Reuters - The United States faced increasing inflationary pressures in recent weeks amid slowing economic growth, the Federal Reserve said on Wednesday, as it described conditions in some areas as "grim," "morose" or "bleak."

Reuters - Stocks rose on Wednesday as financial shares climbed on optimism about a rescue plan for mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and as the price of oil fell.

AP - The country slogged through slower economic growth and rising prices during the summer, packing a double whammy to people and businesses alike.

AP - Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said Wednesday that agreement on a sweeping housing rescue bill will send a strong message to investors around the world and will be key to helping the nation turn the corner on the housing crisis.

AP - With the cost of everything from air conditioning to whipped cream rising, many restaurants have been raising prices. LongHorn Steakhouse is passing on part of the tab to its servers.

AP - General Motors Corp., pummeled by falling U.S. sales and high gas prices, lost the global sales lead to Toyota Motor Corp. in the first half of this year, but the churning market makes it difficult to predict which automaker will end the year on top.

AFP - Factories in the 15 nations sharing the euro saw demand pull back more sharply than expected in May, official EU data showed on Wednesday.