• May 4, 2017
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The productivity of American firms and their employees fell in the first quarter at the fastest rate in a year, reflecting a cutback in the amount of goods and services made available to customers. U.S. productivity — the key to a higher standard of living — declined at a 0.6% annual pace in the first

• May 4, 2017
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Treasury prices fell Thursday, allowing yields to continue their rise a day after Federal Reserve policy makers indicated the central bank would gradually hike rates this year, helping to overcome some investor’s suspicions that weak economic data would stay the Fed’s hand on future increases.

• May 4, 2017
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There will be six Federal Reserve officials speaking on Friday and economists will be listening for clues about balance-sheet policy. The central bank did not shed any new light on the internal discussions on its plans to reduce its $4.5 trillion balance sheet on Wednesday.

• May 3, 2017
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Private-sector employment slowed down in April as employers added 177,000 jobs, ADP reported Wednesday, down from a revised 255,000 jobs created in March.

• May 3, 2017
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Federal Reserve keeps rates unchanged as expected Treasury yields moved up after the Fed decided to keep rates steady but indicated it still intends to hike them at least two more times this year. The yield on the 10-year note rose 0.7 basis point to 2.298% after the announcement, adding to a modest rise seen

• May 3, 2017
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The Federal Reserve on Wednesday voted 9-0 to leave its benchmark interest rate at 0.75% to 1%, but the FOMC also indicated it’s still on track for two more rate increases in 2017. The Fed said the sharp slowdown in first-quarter GDP resulting from a falloff in consumer spending is “likely to be transitory.” The

• May 1, 2017
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The rate of U.S. inflation slowed in March one month after hitting a five-year peak, reflecting lower prices for gasoline and other consumer goods such as new autos. The halt last month to the recent rise in inflation could ease pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates, though the central bank appears on

• May 1, 2017
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Treasury yields edged up, as prices fell, from a weeklong low as economic reports showed that consumer spending in the U.S. economy was slowing down and as inflation appeared muted.

• May 1, 2017
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Spending on construction dipped in March following an unusually strong pace of spending in February. Construction outlays were down 0.2%, the Commerce Department said Monday.

• April 29, 2017
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Investors face a fire hose of possible stock-market catalysts during another heavy week of earnings reports as the Federal Reserve holds its May policy meeting and a wealth of economic data is released, topped off by the April jobs report on Friday.