AFP - US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson assured investors in the oil-rich Gulf region on Monday that the United States will remain open to sovereign wealth funds.

AP - Oil prices fell Tuesday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke indicated that more interest rate cuts are unlikely, comments that sent the dollar higher and raised questions about oil's ability to reach new highs in the short term. Gas prices rose slightly to a new record near $3.98 a gallon.

AFP - Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke has signaled that the US central bank is worried about the dollar, saying the sagging currency has led to 'unwelcome' inflation pressures.

AP - Oil prices jumped Thursday after the dollar fell in response to comments by European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet suggesting the bank could raise interest rates. At the pump, meanwhile, gas prices rose to a new record near $3.99, and are likely to hit $4 soon.

AP - Detroit automakers — and Chrysler in particular — nearly erased the North American productivity gap with their Asian rivals in 2007 thanks to worker buyouts, leaner plants and other improvements, but they still make less money per vehicle because of higher costs, according to the Harbour Report on manufacturing released Thursday.

AFP - The dollar rebounded slightly in Asian trade on Monday after plunging at the end of last week on news of a jump in the US unemployment rate, dealers said.

Reuters - The U.S. trade deficit widened more than expected in April as the average price for imported oil jumped to a record $96.81 per barrel and U.S. exports and imports also set records, a Commerce Department report showed on Tuesday.

Reuters - Retail sales excluding cars improved in May, as consumers shelled out more money for gasoline at the expense of other purchases, according to a private report released on Wednesday.

AFP - In a new reform move, communist Cuba announced Wednesday it was scrapping salary caps long meant to underscore egalitarianism but which President Raul Castro's government says hurt productivity.

Reuters - Soaring gasoline prices helped drive up overall U.S. consumer prices during May by the fastest rate in six months, but core prices remained tame, a government report on Friday showed.

AFP - US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said Saturday a strong dollar was in his nation's interests and solid US economic fundamentals would support the currency in the long term.

AP - Crude oil futures hit a record near $140 a barrel Monday as investors shrugged off Saudi Arabia's promise to boost production and instead focused on a weaker dollar. Retail gas prices rose to a record $4.08 a gallon.

AP - Industrial production dipped in May, underscoring the strain on factories from the deep housing slump.

Reuters - The economy of California, the most populous U.S. state, will remain weak this year as the downturn in its housing market persists, but strong exports and agricultural activity will help offset that drag, according to a UCLA Anderson report released on Wednesday.

AP - The number of newly laid-off workers filing applications for unemployment benefits dropped slightly last week but remained at a level showing the strains of a weak economy.

AP - When Eric King moved from his apartment in Pittsburgh to a single-family home with a lawn, he bought a manual lawn mower instead of the usual gas-powered kind. He figures he's putting money in his pocket and saving trips to the filling station.

AFP - The tough talk on inflation from Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke and his colleagues is unlikely to lead to a boost in interest rates -- at least for now, economists say.

AP - Like a lot of people, Nate Towne is cutting back on spending. He's carpooling to work and only shops at grocery stores that take coupons or offer discount 'rewards' cards.

Reuters - Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said on Tuesday that the global economy was being strained by costly energy but said U.S. economic fundamentals were sound.

AFP - Oil prices steadied on Wednesday as the market sat tight before a key report on the state of crude inventories in the United States, which is the world's biggest consumer of energy.

AP - New filings for unemployment benefits held steady last week but were still at a high level, pointing to a cooler jobs market.

AP - Gas prices have long been sky-high in Europe. So given what's happened to prices at the pump in America recently, has a gallon of gas in Paris or Rome gone from expensive to ridiculous?

Reuters - A couple of times a year, David Holzhammer drives more than 200 miles from his home in Iowa City, Iowa, to see the Chicago Cubs play baseball. That is a luxury he is not giving up, despite high gas prices and other strains on his wallet.

Reuters - Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said on Monday he believes in a strong U.S. dollar and that U.S officials were working to resolve the country's economic problems, including regulatory mistakes that led to excesses in the mortgage and banking sectors.