Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said Thursday the government’s $700 billion bailout program will end “as soon as we can,“ and that part of it will be used to lower the record deficit.

A private forecast of economic activity over the next six months edged up less than expected in October, signaling slow, bumpy growth next year.

The number of newly laid-off workers seeking unemployment insurance was unchanged last week, while those continuing to claim benefits dipped.

The weak figures show that builders still lack confidence that buyers can soak up the glut of unsold homes already on the market —  a supply magnified by a record number of home foreclosures.

Consumer prices edged up faster than expected in October, driven higher by another increase in energy prices and the biggest jump in new car prices in 28 years.

The U.S. trade deficit widened more than expected in September as foreign oil prices rose to the highest level in nearly a year, swamping a fifth consecutive gain in exports.

New claims for unemployment insurance fall more than expected last week, evidence the job market is slowly healing as the economy recovers.

Median sales prices of existing homes declined in 123 out of 153 metropolitan areas compared with the same period a year ago. Prices rose in the other 30 cities.

Businesses cut inventories at the wholesale level for a record 13th consecutive month in September, but sales rose for a sixth straight time.

The unemployment rate has surpassed 10 percent for the first time since 1983. Nearly 16 million people can’t find jobs and employers cut a net total of 190,000 jobs last month, the Labor Department says.

Toyota is pulling out of Formula One racing, the world’s largest automaker announcing Wednesday that it needs to cut costs and focus on its core business.

Fifth increase in six months bolstered hopes that a revival in manufacturing will help support an overall economic recovery. The worry is that if consumer spending falters in coming months, orders will slump again.

Hopes for the fledgling economic recovery got a boost today from better-than-expected news on manufacturing, construction and contracts to buy homes.

President Barack Obama says the public and private sectors must find more ways to create jobs to continue the U.S. climb out of an economic recession.

A private measure of U.S. manufacturing activity grew in October at the fastest pace in more than three years, helped by government spending and higher demand from overseas. The better-than-expected reading is a positive signal for the fledgling economic recovery.