Report: Half of Small Businesses Denied Credit
"Qualified borrowers are hard to find," says one bank chief executive.
Read moreNational Economy
Fed Survey: Banks Loosen Credit to Small Businesses
For the first time in four years, banks report easing standards on loans and credit lines to small businesses.
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Bernanke Urges Banks to Up Small Business Lending
Government-backed loans to small companies have dipped sharply, no thanks in part to a key federal program running out of money.
Read moreRecent Articles about National Economy
Going Virtual By The Numbers
How much could American businesses save if workers were allowed to spend half of their time working from home? Here's a hint: It's enough to pay for unive... Read more
Obama Encourages Small Firms to Go Global
With the goal of doubling U.S. exports within five years, Obama wants to help small businesses get in the act. But a new survey lists the biggest roadblocks:... Read more
Recovery's in the Air, But...
American sentiment about the economy seems to be changing. The Federal Reserve reports that the "U.S. economy continues to strengthen," and our SurePayrol... Read more
Report: Small Business Credit Card Use Creates Jobs
Study finds significant benefits to using credit cards, including revenue growth that's spurred massive job creation. Read more
The Days of Cheap Capital Are Gone for Good
The deal you put together in 2007 is no longer feasible today. Here's why. Read more
GDP Fell 6.1 Percent in Q1
"Real gross domestic product -- the output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States -- decreased at an annual rat... Read more
Feds Promote Trade Pact
Small firms would benefit from a deal with Colombia that makes U.S. exports duty free, officials say. Read more
Feds Defend Trade Pacts
American small businesses can help boost the economy by expanding into foreign markets, officials say. Read more
Consumers Curb Spending
Weaker income growth has many U.S. households cutting back to necessities, Deloitte reports. Read more
Guest Speaker: Joseph E. Stiglitz, Stagflation Redux
Rising prices amid a sputtering economy? We've been here before. Here's how businesses should prepare. Read more
Bailing Out The Bear
One of the more entertaining sideshows to the spectacle of the Federal Reserve bailing out Bear Stearns belongs to the contortionists -- the ideologues wh... Read more
The Bailout Blues
If Wall Street is to be believed, we are so screwed. The House nixed the bailout bill -- and notwithstanding MarketWatch economist Irwin ... Read more
The Economy This Week
Small-business owners are cutting back on spending plans; gas prices hit record highs. Read more
Fed Trims Interest Rate
Banks respond by dropping benchmark lending rates for small businesses to a two-year low. Read more
The Economy This Week
Optimism among small-business owners fades; retail sales get a seasonal boost. Read more
Industrial Production Rebounds
Jan. 17, 2007 -- Industrial production rose by 0.4 percent in December, driven by increased output in the high-tech and auto sectors, the... Read more
Economic Growth Slows to Four-Year Low
April 27, 2007 -- A weaker housing market kept economic growth over the first quarter to its slowest pace in nearly four years, the Comme... Read more
Understanding the Economy
People worry that a recession is coming. But by the time one arrives, most economic harm has already happened. Read more
The Fed Holds Firm
The Federal Reserve Bank's Open Market Committee left the target federal funds rate at 5.25 percent this afternoon. "Recent indicators have sugges... Read more
U.S. Economy Still Tops
Despite the financial crisis, the U.S. economy remains the world's most competitive, the World Economic Forum says. Read more
Consumer Confidence Inches Up
Lower gas prices helped ease inflation fears, boosting the long-term outlook on the economy, the Conference Board reports. Read more
CEOs Offer Their Advice to Bernanke
Nov. 14, 2005 -- The Senate Banking Committee on Wednesday approved the nomination of Ben Bernanke, President Bush's Read more
This Week's Economic Roundup
Fed chief sets off inflation fears; half of business owners report hiring plans. Read more
Fed Halts Interest-Rate Hikes
To help stave off inflation, the Federal Reserve voted against an increase for the first time in two years. Read more
Industrial Production Rebounds
Nov. 16, 2006 -- Industrial production was up 0.2 percent last month after declining in September, the Federal Reserve said today.
Industrial Production Picks Up
Dec. 15, 2006 -- Industrial production increased by 0.2 percent in November, the Federal Reserve reported on Friday. Gains in Octo... Read more
Outlook 2006: Interest Rates
Going up! Read more
Economy Perking Up
Jan. 21, 2005 -- The economy's temperature is improving, according to a slew of recent economic reports. Cheaper oil meant consumer price... Read more
More Expected Rate Hikes
Feb. 4, 2005 -- For the sixth time since June, the Federal Reserve raised short-term interest rates on Wednesday, and signaled that futur... Read more
Small Businesses See Rosy 2005
Feb. 24, 2005 -- Growth in the nation's gross domestic product coupled with an increase in the number of new jobs added and a rebound in ... Read more
Leading Indicator Falls in March
April 22, 2005 - A major indicator used to predict future economic activity fell in March, a sign that economic expansion in America may ... Read more
Small Cities Innovate, Too
August 4, 2005 --Highly populated cities aren't the only areas that foster innovation, according to a study by the Federal Reserve Bank of... Read more
Small Businesses Withstand Another Round of Rate Hikes
May 6, 2005 --The quarter percentage point hike in the interest rate by the Federal Reserve is likely to further affect small businesses, ... Read more
Leading Indicator Falls in March
Data shows possible economic lag, but interest rate spread and consumer goods orders improved. Read more
Economic Data Dips, Surges
June 30, 2005 --Reports released Thursday by the Departments of Labor and Commerce provided mixed messages on the economy, while House Dem... Read more
Fed Intent on More Rate Increases
July 21, 2005 --Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan appeared before a Senate subcommittee Thursday, repeating his intention to continu... Read more
Small Business Optimism Up
August 10, 2005 --The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by a quarter-point for the tenth straight time Tuesday, lending credence to re... Read more
Small Cities Innovate, Too
August 4, 2005 --Highly populated cities aren't the only areas that foster innovation, according to a study by the Federal Reserve Bank of... Read more
Consumer Confidence Falls, Small Business Rises
August 26, 2005 --Despite reports of sagging consumer confidence in a national survey released today, small business owners and operators ... Read more
Interest Rates To Continue Rising
Sept. 20, 2005 --Economists expect the Federal Reserve to raise the rate that banks charge each other for overnight loans as the economy t... Read more
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