Former Treasury Official Michael Barr Is Frontrunner for Top Fed Banking Regulator
WASHINGTON—Michael Barr, a former Treasury Department official, is the White House’s leading candidate to serve as the Federal Reserve’s top...
Politics/International Relations
Russia Cuts Interest Rate as Financial System Stabilizes
Russia’s central bank cut its key interest rate following an unscheduled meeting of policy makers Friday, a sign that efforts to...
U.S. Takes First Enforcement Actions Against Alleged Violators of Russia Export Controls
WASHINGTON—The U.S. took its first actions Thursday to enforce sweeping restrictions on the export of technology and industrial goods to...
U.S. Jobless Claims Fall to 166,000, Lowest Level Since 1968
New applications for U.S. unemployment benefits fell last week to a near 54-year low as employers held on to workers...
Biden Extends Pause on Federal Student-Loan Payments Through August
WASHINGTON—President Biden on Wednesday extended through Aug. 31 the pause on payments of federal student loans, setting up a politically...
Fed’s Brainard Says Reducing Elevated Inflation ‘Is of Paramount Importance’
A top Federal Reserve official said the central bank is strongly committed to taking steps that will reduce inflation this...
U.S. Trade Deficit Narrowed Slightly in February
The U.S. trade deficit narrowed slightly in February, shrinking 0.1% for the month but remaining close to a record. Both...
Europe Faces Pressure to Dial Up Sanctions on Russia Over Ukraine Deaths
BERLIN—French President Emmanuel Macron’s call Monday for sanctions banning imports of Russian oil and coal into the European Union following...
How Microsoft Became Washington’s Favorite Tech Giant
When a congressional committee was preparing to publicly interrogate the CEOs of four tech giants in 2020, Microsoft Corp. President...
U.S. March Jobs Report Shows Strong Hiring Momentum
The U.S. labor market strengthened last month as the pandemic’s grip receded and more workers jumped back into the labor...
Biden to Draw Down Oil Reserves in Bid to Ease Gas Prices
WASHINGTON—President Biden will tap up to 180 million barrels of government oil reserves to help tamp down near-record high fuel...
Inflation Weighed on Consumer Spending Growth in February
Consumer spending growth, a key engine of the economy, slowed sharply in February, as the Omicron surge of Covid-19 eased...
U.S. Jobless Claims Edge Higher Amid Tight Labor Market
New applications for U.S. unemployment benefits rose slightly last week, indicating a strong labor market in which employers are holding...
Judge Approves $18 Million Activision Settlement With EEOC
A California judge has approved an $18 million settlement between Activision Blizzard Inc. and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, marking...
How High Energy Prices Could Help Both the Climate and the U.S.
The surge in global energy prices triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sure doesn’t seem like any sort of blessing....
Biden’s Budget Calls for Increase in Defense Spending, Including Funds for Ukraine
WASHINGTON—President Biden on Monday released a $5.8 trillion budget that envisions a substantial increase in U.S. defense spending, a sign...
IRS Delays, Sudden End to Tax Break Leave Employers Frustrated With Covid Credits
IRS processing delays and federal policy changes are creating headaches for businesses and nonprofits using a popular wage subsidy that...
How Sanctions on Russia, War in Ukraine and Covid in China Are Transforming Global Supply Chains
A new world order is emerging for the vital supply chains that deliver most of the goods we rely on...
U.S. Jobless Claims Fall in Tight Labor Market
New applications for unemployment benefits in the U.S. fell last week to historic lows as employers held on to their...
A Black Box From China Eastern Airlines Plane Crash Is Found
HONG KONG—Rescuers have recovered one of the black boxes from the Boeing 737 that crashed into a mountainous rural area...
