By Jeffrey Sparshott and Jeff Bater; Wall Street Journal
The U.S. economy added fewer jobs than expected in December, but the unemployment rate fell to its lowest level in 19 months as more people who still remain in the work force found employment.
Nonfarm payrolls rose by 103,000 last month as private-sector employers added 113,000 jobs, the Labor Department said Friday. The… Read more »
By Vivien Lou Chen and Timothy R. Homan; Bloomberg Business Week
Lee and Kate Amon, owners of Internet retailer Kate's Caring Gifts, say they would need a 50 percent increase in sales before adding a full-time employee. The couple, who live and work in Fremont, Calif., have two part-timers handle orders for organic food baskets and natural soaps because "it gives us the flexibility to… Read more »
By Laurie Segall; CNN Money
Small businesses saw a sharp jump in hiring in December, according to an ADP report released Wednesday.
The private sector added 297,000 jobs overall last month, with almost all of the gains coming from companies with less than 500 workers. Those firms added a net 261,000 new positions during the month, ADP estimates.
The smallest companies -- those with… Read more »
By James B. Kelleher; ABC News
Borrowing by small U.S. businesses jumped in November to the highest level in more than two years, PayNet Inc reported on Monday, as entrepreneurs invested in their businesses and did a better job of paying existing debts.
The Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index, which measures the overall volume of financing to U.S. small businesses,… Read more »
By Washington Post;
At last, the Obama administration has cut a deal with South Korea, paving the way for congressional approval of a long-stalled free-trade agreement with that crucial Asian ally. Now, what about Colombia and Panama? Alas, the administration's answer still appears to be "not yet." White House spokesman Robert Gibbs announced Friday that the president would not be… Read more »
By Laura Petrecca; USA Today
One small provision in the new tax law could spur big-ticket business spending — and if a government analysis proves correct, bolster hiring.
The "100% expensing" policy allows businesses in 2011 to fully write off "productive capital investments" such as delivery trucks, machines and aircraft rather than depreciate the cost over a period of years.
With… Read more »
By Cheddy Wigginton; UPI
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act included a requirement that may have businesses screaming on January 1st, 2012.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, known as the Obama healthcare bill, included a requirement that should have businesses screaming beginning January 1, 2012. Although the new reporting requirement does not apply to… Read more »
By Lori Montgomery; Washington Post
Congress approved the most significant tax bill in nearly a decade late Thursday, overcoming liberal resistance to continue for two more years tax breaks enacted under president George W. Bush and to provide a fresh boost of federal support to the tepid economic recovery.
The package, brokered by President Obama and Republican leaders in the wake… Read more »
By Jessica Dickler; CNN Money
Holding on to a seasonal job past New Year's Eve is almost as difficult as keeping all your resolutions.
But Donna Marholz is hoping she will be among those who are lucky enough to land a permanent position next year. After losing her job two years ago, she has been looking for work ever since. She applied for a temporary position at Kohl's and was hired… Read more »
By Eric Dash; New York Times
The Federal Reserve, fulfilling a Congressional order to examine whether merchants were being charged excessive fees to process debit card transactions, proposed new rules on Thursday that analysts said could cut those fees as much as 90 percent.
The Fed’s report went much further than the 50 percent reduction that Wall Street analysts had expected.… Read more »
