Wall Street edges higher in a wobbly start to 2026
Foreign markets fared better and benchmarks in Britain and South Korea hit records.
Economy
Wall Street falls in light trading on the final day of 2025, another banner year for markets
2025 was a banner year for markets was driven by both optimism and uncertainty.
Trump made lots of tariff threats in 2025. Here’s some that never materialized
While many threats led to a barrage of new import taxes, others never materialized.
US applications for jobless benefits fell below 200,000 last week with layoffs historically low
Applications for unemployment aid are viewed as a proxy for layoffs.
Stocks waver as 2025 winds down while gold and silver rise
The more notable action was again in the commodities markets.
Stocks slip on Wall Street as 2025 winds down
The losses have little impact on the broader annual gains for major indexes.
What are the most popular jobs in the Lehigh Valley? Who gets paid the most?
What do you do for a living? How much do you make? Those are some...
More thrifting and fewer returns, the early trends that defined shopping this holiday
Here are the trends that defined the holiday shopping season so far.
Stocks close slightly lower in quiet post-Christmas trading
Gold and silver prices continued to climb.
Americans facing a tough job market in 2025 won’t get a break next year
Workers outside of health care, in particular, have had a difficult go of it.
US stocks drift to more records on a holiday-shortened day of trading
Markets closed early for Christmas Eve and will remain closed for Christmas on Thursday.
US unemployment claims fall again last week, remain at historically healthy level
The latest figures come despite some signs that the labor market is weakening.
Cautious shoppers step up spending to start holiday season
Uncertainty about the economy is making consumers more targeted in their buying.
US stocks rose again in 2025 after overcoming turbulence from tariffs and Trump’s fight with the Fed
It was a great year for anyone with the stomach to stick through the swings.
Consumer confidence slides in December to lowest level since US tariffs rolled out in April
Write-in responses to the survey showed that prices and inflation remained consumers’ biggest concern.
US economy expands at a surprisingly strong 4.3% annual rate in the third quarter
Tuesday’s report from the Commerce Department said U.S. gross domestic product up from its 3.8%...
A look at the experts racing to decode Trump’s tariff rules
With a spate of new trade rules unleashed by the Trump administration, customs brokers have...
S&P 500 closes at another record, beating the high it set earlier this month
Consumer confidence continued fading in December.
Cloudy future for bourbon has Jim Beam closing Kentucky distillery for a year
The decision comes as the whiskey industry faces tariffs and declining demand.
A small town’s American Dream is at risk. What happens when its biggest employer shuts down?
Tyson Foods is closing its beef plant in Lexington, Nebraska.
Most US adults aren’t making year-end charitable contributions, new AP-NORC poll finds
Everyday donors faced competing priorities this year.
US stocks rise at the start of a holiday-shortened week
Stocks are rising modestly on Wall Street at the start of what’s expected to be...
Trump’s ‘A+++++’ economy collides with reality in Lehigh Valley, a critical swing area in 2026 midterms
Economic worries are a vulnerability for Republicans in swing congressional districts like the Lehigh Valley,...
Eagles beat Commanders, repeat as NFC East champs
The Eagles are the first team to top the NFC East in back-to-back seasons since...
Stocks rise on Wall Street as AI stocks turn higher again
The S&P 500 rose 0.9% Friday, erasing its losses for the week.
US stocks jump after an encouraging inflation update, as Micron helps AI stocks stop their slide
A strong profit report from Micron Technology also helped AI stocks halt their sharp slides.
US jobless claim applications fell by 13,000 last week as layoffs remain low
The numbers come as concerns grow about the health of the labor market.
US says price increases eased last month but data may be distorted and Americans aren’t feeling it
Year-over-year inflation remains well above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target.
More drops for AI stocks drag Wall Street to its worst day in nearly a month
Oil producers jumped with crude prices following Trump's escalation against Venezuela.
Wall Street slips as oil prices keep dropping
Reports on the economy did little to clear uncertainty about where interest rates are heading.
Retail sales unchanged in October hurt in part by a decline in auto sales
A big factor dragging down the figure was a 1.6% drop in sales at auto...
The US gained 64,000 jobs in November but lost 105,000 in October; unemployment rate at 4.6%
The unemployment rate rose to its highest since 2021.
Ford scraps F150 Lightning as mounting losses and falling consumer interest hits EV plans
The company has lost $13 billion on EVs since 2023.
Trump’s promised big tax cuts are expected to disappoint the average worker
Consumer sentiment is hovering near its lowest level on record.
US tariffs are having an uneven effect on holiday prices and purchases
Many U.S. consumers say they’ve noticed higher than usual prices for holiday gifts.
US stocks drift ahead of Tuesday’s jobs report
The main focus will be what several big updates on the U.S. economy’s health say.
Historic Bethlehem bank building could get 5-story addition with 61 apartments and an ‘experience center’
The former Wells Fargo bank branch in downtown Bethlehem would get a 5-story addition for...
Tumbling tech drags Wall Street off its records and toward its worst day in 3 weeks
Broadcom dragged the market lower.
This holiday season isn’t very merry for consumers, poll finds
Roughly half of Americans say it’s harder than usual to afford the gifts they want.
The US stock market hits record highs, even as worries about an AI bubble continue
The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1.3% and topped its own record set last month.
US jobless benefit applications jump to 236,000 last week as concerns about labor market persist
U.S. jobless claim applications for the week ending Dec. 6 climbed above analysts' forecast.
Tariffs have cost U.S. households $1,200 each since Trump returned to the White House, Democrats say
The Democrats’ report found that American consumers’ share of the bill came to nearly $159...
Trump’s handling of the economy is at its lowest point in AP-NORC polling
The poll results are a warning about how Americans are evaluating Trump's performance as the...
US stocks rise after the Fed cuts rates and hopes build for more
Wall Street loves lower interest rates because they can boost the economy and goose prices...
Federal Reserve cuts key rate, sees healthier economy next year
Wednesday's cut reduced the rate to the lowest it has been in nearly three years.
US job openings barely budged in October, coming in just below 7.7 million
Overall, it’s a puzzling time for the American economy.
Wall Street drifts near its record high as Exxon Mobil climbs
Trading is calm as Wall Street waits to hear what the Federal Reserve will say...
Fed likely to lower borrowing costs this week, but follow-up rate cuts face longer odds
The Fed’s 19-member rate-setting committee is sharply divided over whether to lower borrowing costs again.
More people crowdfunded for essential needs like food and housing in 2025, according to GoFundMe
The “Year in Help” report also shows that “monthly bills” were the second fastest-growing category...
Wall Street pulls back from its record heights
Warner Bros. Discovery jumped after Paramount offered to buy the company.
U.S. consumer sentiment improved this month but remains subdued, the University of Michigan reports
The index beat the 52 mark that economists had forecast. Still, the index is down...
Fed’s preferred inflation gauge stayed elevated in September as spending weakened
The data was delayed for five weeks by the government shutdown.
Wall Street rises to the edge of its all-time high
The modest moves capped a quiet week for Wall Street.
Wall Street inches closer to its all-time high
A drop for Kroger helped work against the gain.
US filings for jobless benefits fall to 191,000, lowest since September of 2022
The news potentially complicates the Federal Reserve’s upcoming decision on interest rates.
Payrolls at US companies fall by most since 2023, ADP says
Payrolls have now fallen four times in the last six months.
Bessent says White House may ‘veto’ Federal Reserve presidents
It's a move that could give the White House more power over the independent agency.
Wall Street pulls near its all-time high
Treasury yields eased in the bond market following some mixed reports on the economy.
Despite US trade war, OECD expects global economy will grow 3.2% this year
The OECD forecasts the economy will grow 3.2% this year, down from 3.3% in 2024.
AI’s impact could worsen gaps between world’s rich and poor, a UN report says
The report likens the situation to the “Great Divergence” of the industrial revolution.
Wall Street holds steadier as bond yields and bitcoin stabilize
MongoDB helped lead the way, delivering stronger results than analysts expected.
Here’s why everyone’s talking about a ‘K-shaped’ economy
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER, AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — From corporate executives to Wall Street...
US stocks fall to their first loss in 6 days as bitcoin tumbles
In stock markets abroad, indexes were mixed in Asia and Europe.
Shoppers scoured for deals online on Cyber Monday and delivered strong sales for retailers
Consumers have spent $9.1 billion online, up 4.5% from the same day a year ago.
A marching band, Santa and vendors: How one Lehigh Valley mall lures shoppers on Small Business Saturday
At the Palmer Park Mall, Small Business Saturday has been rechristened "Shop Small Saturday," with...
Teen brands win over wary Black Friday shoppers while other deals disappoint
Friday's most crowded stores belonged to brands including Edikted, Kendra Scott, and Bath & Body...
US stocks rise for a fifth straight day to close out a volatile month
Nvidia lost 1.8% Friday and closed the month with a double-digit loss.
Shoppers hit Black Friday sales with celebratory mood despite economic strain
The holiday shopping season begins as consumer confidence in the economy falls.
U.S. stocks rise as Wall Street’s winning streak grows to four days
Stocks have risen for three straight days.
Layoffs are piling up, raising worker anxiety. Here are some companies that have cut jobs recently
In a delayed report released last week, the Labor Department said unemployment rose to 4.4%...
Fewer Americans sought unemployment benefits last week as job cuts stay low
The number is close to a real-time indicator of the health of the job market.
Consumer confidence slides as Americans grow wary of high costs and sluggish job gains
Americans were much less confident in the economy in the aftermath of the government shutdown.
US stocks rise, but Nvidia’s drop keeps the market in check
A report suggested Meta Platforms may spend billions on AI chips from Alphabet.
Another rally for Alphabet leads the US stock market higher
Stocks got a lift from rising hopes that the Federal Reserve will cut its main...
Stores keep prices down in a tough year for turkeys. Other Thanksgiving foods may cost more
Canned cranberry sauce had the biggest price increase after drought impacted production and new tariffs...
More swings hit Wall Street, but this time stocks finish higher
Retailers rallied following strong profit reports from Ross Stores and Gap.
Bubble fears ease but investors still waiting for AI to live up to its promise
Some companies are relying more heavily on debt to fund their AI ambitions.
Vance says Americans need patience on prices but says ‘We hear you’ on affordability concerns
The White House is grappling with how to speak to voters about the cost of...
US homes sales rose in October as homebuyers seized on declining mortgage rates
The latest sales figure topped the pace economists were expecting.
US filings for jobless benefits remained in historically healthy range during government shutdown
New U.S. jobless claim applications fell last week, remaining within the healthy range of recent...
Walmart raises profit expectations as more Americans hunt deals in sluggish economy
With other retailers dialing back projections, the nation’s largest retailer raised its financial outlook in...
U.S. employers added surprisingly solid 119,000 jobs in September, government says in delayed report
Revisions also showed the economy lost 4,000 jobs in August instead of gaining 22,000.
Big swings keep rocking Wall Street as US stocks drop sharply after erasing a morning surge
The sharpest losses again hit what had been the market’s biggest winners.
Labor Department won’t release full October jobs report, a casualty of the 43-day federal shutdown
The department’s “employment situation″ report usually comes out the first Friday of the month.
McDonald’s is losing its low-income customers. Economists call it a symptom of the stark wealth divide
The iconic brand still has staying power, even with prices creeping up, some customers said.
Quarterly profit slide at Target hints at a challenging holiday season for the retailer
The company expects its sales slump to extend through the critical holiday shopping season.
U.S. trade deficit drops 24% in August as Trump’s tariffs reduce imports
Imports fell in August from July when U.S. companies were stocking up on foreign products...
Wall Street swings through another unsettled day ahead of a crucial couple of tests
Much is riding on Nvidia, which announces profits after trading ends today.
Sharp disagreements over economy threaten Federal Reserve interest rate cut
Some policymakers have registered greater concern over persistent inflation.
Stocks drop after another jarring day as worries about too-high prices keep dogging Nvidia, bitcoin
Nvidia was again the heaviest weight on the market.
Nvidia, bitcoin and other falling stars drag the US stock market lower
Nvidia fell again ahead of its profit report on Wednesday.
New analysis shows more US consumers are falling behind on their utility bills
Voters have said they're worried about the high cost of living.
Government will release September jobs report next week, ending data drought from federal shutdown
The interruption of federal economic statistics came at an awkward time.
Wall Street scrambles back from a big morning loss as Nvidia and bitcoin swing
AI worries are impacting the market, as are concerns about the upcoming Federal Reserve meeting.
The unprecedented government shutdown will weigh on a US economy already under stress
About 1.25 million federal workers haven’t been paid since Oct. 1.
Wall Street has its worst day in a month on worries about AI stocks and interest rates
Traders questioned whether the coming cuts to interest rates will actually happen.
2 Federal Reserve officials oppose an interest rate cut in December
The officials cited several reasons for keeping rates unchanged, after reductions in September and October.
Wall Street drifts around its records as AMD rallies
Advanced Micro Devices was one of the strongest forces lifting the market after forecasting strong...
Atlanta Fed president Bostic to retire in February, opening seat on key committee
Trump has repeatedly attacked the Fed this year for not cutting interest rates as quickly...
Small grocers and convenience stores feel an impact as customers go without SNAP benefits
A former director of the U.N. World Food Program said the cutoff of SNAP benefits...