• March 30, 2017
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The number of Americans who applied for unemployment benefits in late March dropped by 3,000 to 258,000, keeping new claims near the lowest level in decades. Economists polled had expected initial jobless claims to total 247,000 in the seven days stretching from March 19 to March 25.

• March 29, 2017
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The fundamentals of the U.S. economy are good and call for another one or two increases in short-term interest rates this year, said Chicago Fed President Charles Evans on Wednesday. Over the next few years, economic growth should average a little above potential, which is not even as high as 2%, Evans said in a

• March 29, 2017
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Contract signings for home sales boomed in February to the second-highest level in a decade, a trade group said Wednesday. Pending home sales rose 5.5% in February after falling 2.8% in January, the National Association of Realtors reported. That’s the highest level in close to a year

• March 29, 2017
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Treasury prices gained some ground on Wednesday after U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May began the Article 50 process, which formally begins the process of taking the country out of the European Union. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note slipped 2.6 basis points to 2.398%. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond fell 2.3 basis

• March 28, 2017
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U.S. house prices roared to their highest in nearly three years as demand remains hot, especially in the west. The S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city index rose 5.7% in the three-month period ending in January compared to the same period a year ago, an acceleration from its 5.5% yearly increase in December. The 20-city index was up 0.2%

• March 28, 2017
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The Conference Board said its consumer confidence index leapt to 125.6 in March from 116.1 in February, coming in well ahead of the consensus of 114.1.

• March 25, 2017
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A renewed effort by Republicans to reform the Federal Reserve will kick off next week. House Republicans have been pressing to reform the Fed since taking control of the chamber in 2010 but have yet to succeed in the face of opposition from Democrats and the Obama White House. This time might be different now

• March 24, 2017
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New orders for durable goods, a telltale sign for the U.S. economy, climbed in February for the second straight month. Orders for durable goods advanced 1.7% while the increase in January was raised several notches to 2.3%, reflecting a pickup in manufacturing that kicked in toward the end of last year.

• March 24, 2017
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Dallas Federal Reserve President Robert Kaplan wants a “gradual and patient” approach to raising interest rates this year but said that doesn’t necessarily include a “pause” in the Fed’s rate-tightening policy. With its rate hike last week, Fed members signaled rough forecasts for two more rate hikes this year. San Francisco Fed President John Williams

• March 23, 2017
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U.S. stock futures traded in tight ranges on Thursday, as investors kept their eye on a speeches from Federal Reserve members including Chairwoman Janet Yellen, as well as an important vote on a health-care bill.