AP - Farm credit conditions in some parts of the West and Midwest weakened in the third quarter, with more producers falling behind on loan payments and asking for extensions, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

FT.com - US employment grew by a robust 215,000 in November, reinforcing expectations that the Federal Reserve may be forced to continue tightening interest rates into 2006.

Reuters - U.S. chain store sales fell in the first week of December, a report said on Tuesday.

AP - The Federal Reserve works hard to balance policy-makers' need to have private, unvarnished discussions about economic matters and investors' desire to keep abreast of the Fed's inner workings, chairman Alan Greenspan says.

FT.com - Wall Street bounced back from Monday's retreat on Tuesday as news of an upward revision to third-quarter productivity figures and a drop in labour costs put investors in a buying mood.After climbing above the $60 a barrel level in the previous session, Nymex crude oil futures dropped 26 cents to $59.65 amid tamer weather in the northeastern US.The Amex airline index, which is sensitive to oil prices, jumped 2.8 per cent on the news, while the S&P transportation index rose 2.1 per cent.Stocks were also boosted by a fresh batch of economic data that showed US productivity had surged 4. ...

Reuters - U.S. consumer sentiment improved in early December more than economists had expected, helped by falling gasoline prices and continuing job growth, a report showed on Friday.

AFP - The turmoil in the US domestic automobile industry shows no signs of abating despite a relatively healthy sales outlook and a strong US economy.

FT.com - The dollar weakened on Monday ahead of Tuesday's Federal Reserve meeting, with investors expecting that it may say interest rates are no longer stimulating the US economy.

AP - Retail sales came in weaker than expected in November as gains at department stores and specialty clothing stores slowed significantly, a worrisome development at the start of the holiday shopping season.

Reuters - U.S. mortgage applications decreased last week, dragged down by sharp decline in home refinancings to a 17-month low as interest rates held near the highest levels of the year, an industry trade group said on Wednesday.

Reuters - U.S. consumer prices fell 0.6 percent in November, the largest decline in 56 years, as energy prices posted a record 8.0 percent drop in the month, the government said on Thursday.

AP - German business confidence rose in December to its highest level in more than five years, a closely watched survey showed Friday, in a sign that Europe's largest economy may strengthen after years of sluggish growth.

AP - The Japanese government remained upbeat about the economy in its latest monthly report Monday, upgrading its view of industrial production, citing a steady manufacturing expansion and a sunny outlook for output.

Reuters - U.S. chain store sales rose solidly in the latest week as consumers appeared to come out in force doing last-minute shopping before the Christmas holiday, according to a report on Tuesday.

AP - The U.S. economy grew at the fastest pace in 1 1/2 years in the summer as booming auto sales offset the adverse effects of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. But the year is expected to end with much slower growth.

Reuters - The United States has suggested to China that the two countries launch a bilateral dialogue on the steel sector to head off potential trade disputes, a senior U.S. official said on Thursday.

Reuters - U.S. consumer sentiment ended stronger in December and better than analysts' expectations, bolstered by falling energy prices, a report showed on Friday.

Reuters - Has the 'wild child' of the emerging markets finally settled down or is South Africa's rand just taking a breather?

Reuters - Spain should push to be a member of the Group of Eight (G8) club of leading economies now that its output has surpassed that of G8 member Canada, an influential Spanish thinktank said on Monday.

Reuters - U.S. mortgage applications fell to a more than 3-1/2-year low last week amid a sharp drop in demand for loan refinancing even as interest rates held steady, an industry trade group said on Wednesday.

Reuters - Sales of existing U.S. homes are likely to have slowed in November as rising mortgage rates and lower purchasing activity dampened market activity, economists said on Tuesday.