Patrice Hill
Articles by Patrice Hill
U.S. oil flow helps keep prices in check as threats rise overseas
America's growing energy independence is paying major dividends this spring, helping to keep a lid on fuel prices despite sudden threats to major global oil supplies in Iraq and Russia that in the past would have sent prices soaring. Published June 19, 2014
Fed sees stronger growth in second half
Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen was upbeat Wednesday about the prospects for stronger growth in the 3 percent range in the second half of the year after the economy took a rare dip in the first quarter. Published June 18, 2014
Uninspired growth makes weak recovery one of the longest
The U.S. economic recovery has distinguished itself as one of the weakest since World War II, but at five years and counting, it may go down as one of the longest as well. Published June 15, 2014
Coal-mining jobs ‘in free-fall’ after EPA regs
The nation's coal mines are closing down so rapidly in the wake of a raft of federal environmental regulations targeting coal that mining employment is now in a "free fall," according to a new report from a leading industry research firm. Published June 12, 2014
May job gains put U.S. over peak set in January 2008
A gain of 217,000 jobs last month sent U.S. total employment past its previous peak of 138.4 million, set in January 2008 just after the Great Recession began, the Labor Department reported Friday. Published June 8, 2014
Nuclear industry sees revival with carbon goals
The Obama administration's proposed regulations for power plants would give a big boost to nuclear power as the industry faces an uncertain future with increasing retirements and declining prospects for dozens of aging reactors. Published June 8, 2014
U.S. surpassed pre-recession peak in jobs in May
A gain of 217,000 jobs last month sent U.S. total employment past its previous peak of 138.4 million, set in January 2008 just after the Great Recession began, the Labor Department reported Friday. Published June 6, 2014
S&P: Fannie, Freddie needed to sustain housing rebound
Standard & Poor's Corp., one of Wall Street's top credit agencies, said Tuesday that the fragile housing recovery cannot continue without support from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two mortgage finance giants many in Congress seem bent on eliminating. Published June 3, 2014
Russia’s Putin gains strategic victory with Chinese natural gas deal
In the tit-for-tat economic war between the United States and Russia this year, Moscow has scored a significant victory with its monumental deal to provide natural gas to China, directly challenging U.S. attempts to isolate Russia with economic sanctions. Published May 25, 2014
Corporations hoard cash overseas away from high U.S. taxes, have little incentive to reinvest
American corporations seem to be doing just about everything with their record $1.53 trillion in cash holdings except using it to invest and hire in the United States, even though the sluggish economy could use the boost. Published May 18, 2014
Power companies bulk up for summer load
As the first day of scorching summer heat set in over Washington, D.C., and the rest of the East Coast Tuesday, the principal power provider in the mid-Atlantic said it has more than enough capacity to handle a hot summer with high demands on air conditioning. Published May 13, 2014
Housing’s new woes: Higher costs, interest rates may signal retreat of major economic driver
The nation's battered housing market, one of the last sectors to join the recovery, is faltering again in the wake of rising interest rates, raising fears that it once again may drag down the rest of the economy. Published May 12, 2014
U.S. energy giants use crude oil loophole to post record petroleum exports
Even as big U.S. oil companies call for an end to a 1970s-era law banning exports of crude, they are exploiting a loophole that last year enabled them to export record amounts of gasoline and other petroleum products. Published May 11, 2014
Strong job growth sends U.S. unemployment rate to 6.3 percent
The nation's unemployment rate plummeted to 6.3 percent last month, the lowest level in 5½ years, as the number of new jobs soared to 288,000, the Labor Department reported Friday. Published May 2, 2014
Fed sees no ‘sharp’ slowdown
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday noted the "sharp" slowdown in the U.S. economy in the first quarter, when growth nearly stalled to a 0.1 percent pace, but did not indicate that would change its plans to gradually remove stimulus from the economy. Published April 30, 2014
Economy stalls under polar vortex; ‘big snapback’ is critical for spring, expert says
The U.S. economy barely grew in the first quarter of 2014, eking out only a 0.1 percent gain, as the infamous polar vortex this winter chilled activity from construction sites to the malls. Published April 30, 2014
‘Help wanted’: Job market shows signs of life for younger workers stalled by Great Recession
Nicholas Rastenis has come a long way from waiting tables and clerking at drugstores to keep body and soul together, as he did for years during and after the 2007-09 Great Recession. Published April 27, 2014
Stalemate on the Hill may spare Fannie and Freddie from reform
Stepped-up demands from liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans are threatening the prospects for legislation to revive and reform the private mortgage market, six years after it collapsed and largely disappeared during the Great Recession. Published April 21, 2014
U.S. Treasury warns China on currency
In unusually pointed language, the U.S. Treasury on Tuesday warned China and Japan that it is closely watching them out of concern they may be intentionally depreciating their currencies to gain an advantage in trade with U.S. competitors. Published April 15, 2014
IMF gives U.S. Congress year-end deadline for passing reforms
The 188 members of the International Monetary Fund on Sunday gave the U.S. Congress until the end of the year to pass reforms giving large emerging countries like Russia and China a greater say in the Bretton Woods Institution, after which they may make plans to reform the IMF without the U.S. Published April 14, 2014
