WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of newly laid-off workers
requesting unemployment benefits fell last week, the latest sign
the employment picture is slowly brightening.
The Labor Department said initial jobless claims fell by 6,000
to a seasonally adjusted 462,000. That's close to Wall Street
analysts' estimates of 460,000 and the second straight
WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. trade deficit unexpectedly shrank in
January, reflecting a big drop in imports of oil and foreign cars.
American exports also fell, a potential blow to hopes that the
economic recovery will be aided this year by U.S. sales abroad.
The Commerce Department said that the trade deficit declined to
$37.3 billion in January, a drop of 6.6
