WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Factory output dropped in April and manufacturing activity in New York state contracted this month, a sign that slowing global demand is weighing on the economy.

The anemic growth picture was highlighted by another report on Wednesday showing the largest decline in wholesale prices in three years. The data gives the Federal Reserve latitude to keep priming the economy with an easy monetary policy.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Producer prices recorded their largest drop in three years in April as gasoline and food costs tumbled, pointing to weak inflation pressures that should give the Federal Reserve latitude to keep monetary policy very accommodative.

The Labor Department said on Wednesday its seasonally adjusted producer price index fell 0.7 percent last month, the biggest decline since February 2010. Wholesale prices had dropped 0.6 percent in March.

WASHINGTON, May 15 (Reuters) – U.S. producer prices recorded
their largest drop in three years in April as gasoline and food
costs tumbled, pointing to weak inflation pressures that should
give the Federal Reserve latitude to keep monetary policy very
accommodative.

The Labor Department said on Wednesday its seasonally
adjusted producer price index fell 0.7 percent last month, the
biggest decline since February 2010. Wholesale prices had
dropped 0.6 percent in March.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Retail sales unexpectedly rose in April, pointing to underlying strength in the economy and leading forecasters to bump up second-quarter growth estimates.

The surprise gain in retail sales, which account for about 30 percent of consumer spending, was the latest sign of resilience in an economy that has been hit by belt-tightening in Washington as the government tries to cut its budget deficit.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. retail sales unexpectedly rose in April as households bought automobiles, building materials and a range of other goods, pointing to underlying strength in the economy.

The Commerce Department said on Monday retail sales edged up 0.1 percent after a revised 0.5 percent decline in March.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A flood of data this week will paint a mixed picture of the global economy, with belt-tightening continuing to dampen activity in the euro zone, but accommodative policies helping to stimulate growth in Japan.

Reports from the United States are expected to show some slowdown in momentum early in the second quarter, and the Chinese economy’s prospects are unlikely to have changed much.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Stacey Kalivas should be celebrating her graduation from college later this week. Instead, the 22 year-old is getting ready to move back home with broken dreams and in debt.

Kalivas is a member of the class of 2013, the fifth successive wave of students to enter into a stubbornly weak U.S. labour market – marked by high unemployment, a large number of part-time workers and many who have given up the hunt for jobs.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Stacey Kalivas should be celebrating her graduation from college later this week. Instead, the 22 year-old is getting ready to move back home with broken dreams and in debt.

Kalivas is a member of the class of 2013, the fifth successive wave of students to enter into a stubbornly weak U.S. labor market – marked by high unemployment, a large number of part-time workers and many who have given up the hunt for jobs.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits dropped to its lowest level in nearly 5-1/2 years last week, signalling labour market resilience in the face of fiscal austerity.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits fell 4,000 to a seasonally adjusted 323,000, the lowest level since January 2008, the Labour Department said on Thursday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits dropped to its lowest level in nearly 5-1/2 years last week, signaling labor market resilience in the face of fiscal austerity.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits fell 4,000 to a seasonally adjusted 323,000, the lowest level since January 2008, the Labor Department said on Thursday.