Patrice Hill

Bernanke: Budget restraint holds back growth

The economy is growing moderately and employment has picked up recently, but growth continues to be held back by budget constraints, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke testified Wednesday. Published May 22, 2013

New top Realtor sees a rebound, but full recovery years away

As a Realtor in Orange County, California, Gary Thomas lives at the epicenter of the last decade’s epic housing boom and bust that is only now beginning to release the economy from its withering grip. Published May 18, 2013

U.S. pumps up oil production as demand rises in developing world

The rapid growth of U.S. oil production is transforming global markets and easing supplies just as China and the rest of the developing world move to overtake the developed world for the first time in consumption, the International Energy Agency reported Tuesday. Published May 14, 2013

Consumers keep shopping despite headwinds

Consumers remained largely undaunted by the budget wars in Washington last month, with retailers reporting a 0.1 percent increase in sales after a 0.5 percent slump in March, the Census Bureau reported Monday morning. Published May 13, 2013

Consumers keep shopping despite federal budget battles

Consumers remained largely undaunted by the budget wars in Washington last month, with retailers reporting a 0.1 percent increase in sales after a 0.5 percent slump in March, the Census Bureau reported Monday morning. Published May 13, 2013

Gold rush hits a speed bump; April’s crash gives pause to glittery-eyed investors

Gold's rise seemed unstoppable at one point, but millions of fanatics got a jolt last month when the market posted its biggest collapse in 30 years, including a 9 percent one-day drop to less than $1,400 on April 15. Published May 9, 2013

Bailed-out Fannie Mae to return $59 billion to taxpayers

Fannie Mae will return nearly $59 billion to taxpayers after experiencing its best-ever profits last quarter, the mortgage giant announced Thursday. Published May 9, 2013

Unemployment down to 7.5 percent in April

Unemployment dropped a notch further to 7.5 percent last month as businesses created another 165,000 jobs, the Labor Department said Friday morning in a report that showed the economy maintained steady growth despite federal budget cuts. Published May 3, 2013

U.S. shows shale technology to the world; foreigners learn techniques, but have long way to go

Oil companies from China, Norway, Japan and other nations are investing billions of dollars in U.S. shale projects so they can learn how to extract oil and gas from bedrock and use those technologies to tap into the large and mostly undeveloped shale deposits outside the U.S. Published April 28, 2013

Economic growth picked up to 2.5 percent last quarter

Economic growth accelerated from near zero to a 2.5 percent rate in the winter quarter as consumers went on a spending spree, the Commerce Department reported Friday morning. Published April 26, 2013

Britain loses AAA credit rating

Britain on Friday became the latest major developed country to lose its top AAA credit rating, following a downgrade issued by Fitch, a London-based ratings agency. Published April 19, 2013

Iceland’s president sees no U.S. leadership as commercial potential opens in Arctic

China and other Asian nations have been moving aggressively to exploit the commercial potential of the Arctic as more of the region becomes accessible for development and shipping in the increasingly ice-free summer, while the U.S. appears to be dragging its feet, Icelandic President Olafur R. Grimsson told editors and reporters at The Washington Times. Published April 18, 2013

China’s slowing growth helps sink stock markets in U.S.

Global stock markets plunged Monday after China reported that its economy grew more slowly in the first quarter setting off a drop of more than 250 points in the Dow Jones index for the worst trading day of the year. Published April 15, 2013

China’s economic slump staggers U.S., world markets

Global stock markets plunged on Monday after China reported that its economy grew more slowly in the first quarter — setting off a drop of more than 250 points in the Dow Jones index for the worst trading day of the year. Published April 15, 2013

Consumers stayed home in March

Consumers stayed away from the malls last month as unusually cold weather and late tax refunds took a toll on their usual spring spending fervor. Published April 12, 2013

Shale oil find fuels boom in U.S. business

To John LaRue, the renaissance in U.S. manufacturing is no dream. It's already here. Published April 11, 2013

Gas prices expected to stay low this summer

Gasoline prices this summer will be the lowest in three years as people drive less and use more fuel-efficient cars, the U.S. Energy Information Administration is predicting. Published April 10, 2013

Unemployment rate falls to 7.6 percent for March despite weak job growth

The nation's unemployment rate declined from 7.7 percent to 7.6 percent in March as more people stopped looking for work and businesses added another 88,000 jobs, the Labor Department reported Friday morning. Published April 5, 2013

Are housing investors creating a new bubble? Cash purchases cloud outlook for market

Housing has emerged as the brightest spot in the economy this year, but some analysts are questioning whether the market's recovery is built to last. Published April 2, 2013

Phoenix moves from bust to boom, but first-time homebuyers face hurdles

Mike Orr, director of Arizona State University's real estate center, has had a front-row seat for the dramatic transformation of the Arizona capital from arguably the most depressed real estate market in the country during the housing bust to the most dynamically expanding market today. Published April 2, 2013