August began with rising fears that another recession was about to hit. That was then.

The White House on Thursday predicted that unemployment will remain at 9 percent next year, a gloomy scenario for President Barack Obama's re-election campaign.

Mercer has acquired Ft. Lauderdale-based Mahoney & Associates health and welfare and defined contribution advisory practices for an undisclosed amount, the company announced today.

The author of a bill that would have given California regulators the power to reject health insurance rate increases said Wednesday that he has pulled it from consideration this year.