Free Republic

The U.S. economy created 818,000 fewer jobs than originally reported in the 12-month period through March 2024, the Labor Department reported Wednesday. As part of its preliminary annual benchmark revisions to the nonfarm payroll numbers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said the actual job growth was nearly 30% less than the initially reported 2.9 million from April 2023 through March of this year.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rallied on Thursday after a fast retreat in the oil price helped boost confidence among investors, while retailers, such as Best Buy Co. Inc. (BBY.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Gap Inc (GPS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , lent support. The stock market was cheered as several retailers beat sales expectations or raised forecasts, pushing up the Standard & Poor's retailing index 2.4 percent. An easing in the oil price also helped sentiment. Crude for October delivery ended up just 5 cents at $44.05 a barrel after gains of more than a dollar earlier pushed it...