Unemployment levels in the world's advanced economies could improve next year, even though the number of people without work will likely continue to rise in several European countries, a leading international economic body said Tuesday.

UnitedHealth Group Inc. has warned that government funding cuts will make it hard to hit the top end of its 2013 earnings forecast. Investors will want to know if that warning still stands when the nation's largest health insurer reports second-quarter results Thursday.

Social Security announced on Wednesday a 3.6 percent increase in benefits for next year, the first raise since 2009

Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear is still working on a way to make a $28 million interest payment due in just over a month on a $900 million federal loan that has kept Kentucky's unemployment insurance program afloat.

The lucrative world of life-guarding has gotten a little less lucrative in California.

For two months, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's labor negotiators have been meeting privately with the leaders of 15 state employee unions, trying to come up with $2 billion in labor savings over two years to help balance Connecticut's budget.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has proclaimed Wednesday "State Employee Recognition Day," months after pushing a bill that would strip most of those workers of their collective bargaining rights.

The Republican-controlled Florida Legislature has put an amendment on next year's ballot aimed at thwarting the federal health care overhaul.