Jobless claims fall for second straight week (AP)

AP - The number of newly laid-off workers seeking unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, the second straight drop from a six-year high, according to government data released Thursday.

Japan's trade surplus falls 86.6 percent in July (AP)
AP - Japan's trade surplus in July fell 86.6 percent from a year earlier as spending on imports grew because of higher prices for oil and other commodities, the government said Thursday.

Labor Dept: Fewer workers killed on job in 2007 (AP)
AP - The number of workers killed on the job annually dropped to a historic low in 2007, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced Wednesday.

Wholesale prices rising at fastest pace since 1981 (AP)

AP - Wholesale inflation surged in July, leaving prices for the past year rising at the fastest pace in 27 years, according to government data released Tuesday.

Housing starts dip to lowest level since March '91 (AP)

AP - Construction of homes and apartments fell in July to the lowest level in more than 17 years, the government reported Tuesday.

(AP)
AP - July industrial output rose by a better-than-expected 0.2 percent, utilities output falls.

EU: Euro economy shrinks in second quarter (AP)

AP - Euro-zone growth braked sharply in the second quarter as major economies Germany, France and Italy shrank, EU statistics showed Thursday, with high fuel and food prices holding back consumer spending.

Business inventories post 0.7 percent increase (AP)
AP - Government data show businesses added to their inventories in June at the fastest pace in five months, a bigger gain than had been expected.

Japan's economy shrinks in second quarter (AP)
AP - Japan's economy shrank in the second quarter, the government said Wednesday, as slowing exports and waning consumer demand pushed the world's No. 2 economy to the brink of recession.

Summary Box: Trade deficit takes surprising dip (AP)
AP - SURPRISING DROP: The June trade deficit declined by 4.1 percent to $56.8 billion, the lowest level in three months and a surprise to economists who were predicting the deficit would widen.