Recession

Gross domestic product increased 0.6 percent in the first quarter, after shrinking the two previous quarters.

Stubbornly high inflation has scrambled the central bank’s outlook. Wall Street is now shifting focus to Friday’s jobs report for clues on its next move.

The review, which was led by Ben S. Bernanke, a former Federal Reserve chair, came after the central bank had been criticized for underestimating inflation.

There is a growing view that the U.S. business cycle has changed (for better) in a more diversified economy. To some, that sounds like tempting fate.

Underlying economic and market factors mattered in previous presidential rematches. They may help President Biden, even if polls aren’t showing that so far.

The trend lines may be grim, but the Japanese aren’t sweating them.

Despite the decline, American consumers still have money to spend.

Thousands of companies, concerned that Germany is facing a recession, are calling for an end to political infighting that has blocked a possible stimulus plan.

A slowdown in consumer and business spending held Japan back at the end of last year, with the economy contracting for the second straight quarter.

Growth contracted 0.3 percent from October to December, the latest sign of a lackluster economy slowed by weak retail sales.