Martin Crutsinger

• Fed signals it could increase or decrease stimulus

  By Martin Crutsinger  |  May 1, 2013

  The Federal Reserve on Wednesday stood by its extraordinary efforts to stimulate the economy because unemployment remains high at 7.6 percent. The Fed said the economy and job market have been improving only moderately, held back by government spending cuts and tax increases.

• Fed sticking with aggressive stimulus

  By Martin Crutsinger  |  March 21, 2013

  The Federal Reserve on Wednesday stood by its efforts to keep borrowing costs at record lows, saying it isn't yet convinced that the U.S. economy's growth can accelerate without significant help from the central bank.

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  Bernanke signals continued support for low rates

  By Martin Crutsinger  |  February 26, 2013

  The Federal Reserve's low interest-rate policies are giving key support to an economy still burdened by high unemployment, Chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress on Tuesday. Bernanke signaled that the Fed's efforts to keep borrowing costs low will continue.

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  January surplus shrinks budget deficit

  By Martin Crutsinger  |  February 12, 2013

  The federal government reported a rare surplus for January and is on track to run the lowest annual deficit since President Barack Obama took office.

• Treasury resumes borrowing, repays pension fund

  By Martin Crutsinger  |  February 7, 2013

  The Treasury Department said Wednesday that it has resumed borrowing now that Congress has approved a temporary measure that allows the government to take on billions of dollars in debt to fund its most basic operations.

• Private job survey shows stronger hiring

  By Martin Crutsinger  |  January 30, 2013

  A private survey shows U.S. businesses increased hiring in January compared with a revised December reading.

• US consumer confidence plunges on higher taxes

  By Martin Crutsinger  |  January 29, 2013

  U.S. consumer confidence plunged in January to its lowest level in more than a year, reflecting higher Social Security taxes that left Americans with less take-home pay.

• US taps pension fund to avoid passing debt limit

  By Martin Crutsinger  |  January 16, 2013

  Geithner says the move will free up $156 billion in borrowing authority while Congress debates increasing the $16.4 trillion debt limit.

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  Geithner says feds could pass debt limit by mid-February

  By Martin Crutsinger  |  January 14, 2013

  Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is telling congressional leaders that the U.S. government will exhaust its borrowing limit as soon as mid-February, earlier than expected.

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  ADP survey suggests December job growth

  By Martin Crutsinger  |  January 3, 2013

  A private survey shows U.S. businesses sharply increased hiring in December, helped by a surge of new construction jobs to help rebuild from Superstorm Sandy.