AP - The number of people filing claims for unemployment benefits jumped last week to the highest level in five years, reflecting in large part a new government outreach effort to locate people eligible for benefits.

Reuters - The Dow industrials and the S&P 500 fell on Thursday as disappointing growth and employment data heightened concerns about the economy's health and the outlook for corporate profits.

Reuters - An emergency dose of government stimulus helped the economy grow at a 1.9 percent annual rate in the second quarter, a soft pace but enough to take it off a path perilously close to recession.

AP - Stocks mostly declined Thursday after a weaker-than-expected reading on the nation's economy and troubling news on jobs touched off renewed concerns about businesses and consumers.

AP - The country didn't get the energetic rebound in economic growth hoped for from the government's tax rebates in the second quarter, and the economy jolted into reverse at the end of 2007, raising new recession fears.

Reuters - Standard & Poor's on Thursday cut ratings on all three major U.S. automakers deeper into junk status, citing expected losses due to higher gas prices and a weakening U.S. economy.

Reuters - The Dow industrials and S&P 500 rose on Wednesday as a surprising increase in private-sector employment and central bank efforts to boost liquidity in stormy financial markets offset a surge in oil prices.

Reuters - Tight-fisted consumers wary of anemic economic growth opened their wallets between May and July and spent their economic stimulus checks, a recent study has found.

AP - Focused on getting the nation's credit gears smoothly working again, the Federal Reserve is letting Wall Street firms draw emergency loans into next year and giving financial companies more options to help them overcome credit problems.

Reuters - Stocks cut gains while the Nasdaq slipped into negative territory on Wednesday as oil prices rose sharply, offsetting positive jobs data and efforts by U.S. officials to boost liquidity in turbulent financial markets.