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Capital spending by Japanese businesses slipped during the quarter ended June, but inventory investment surged, suggesting the government will revise upward its GDP growth estimate for the quarter.

Retail sales in the 16 countries that use the euro rose more than expected in July in a fresh sign that consumer demand is helping drive economic growth.

Private-sector growth in the euro zone slowed slightly in August but employment rose at the fastest rate for more than two years, the final results of a monthly survey by Markit showed.

The Russian prime minister's move helped push up the price of wheat and sparked fears of supply shortages and broader unrest over rising food costs.

U.S. firms eager to shape new financial regulations have wasted no time in lobbying the Federal Reserve and other agencies, according to details from the central bank.

U.S. National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers and Deputy National Security Adviser Thomas Donilon will travel to Beijing this weekend for high-level talks as the U.S. and China work to iron out tensions on issues ranging from currency policy to military ties to Iran.

Policy makers face a daunting task in successfully reshaping financial markets but must succeed to prevent future crises, Fed Chief Ben Bernanke and FDIC Chief Sheila Bair told an investigative panel.

Initial unemployment claims fell by 6,000 to 472,000 in the latest week, but the high level still suggests the job recovery remains sluggish. Separately, second-quarter productivity fell.

Sweden's Riksbank raised its key interest rate, continuing its gradual normalization of policy following heavy rate cuts in the wake of the financial downturn.

The strongest rise in consumer spending since the start of the financial crisis helped drive the euro zone's strong growth in the second quarter.

Mortgage lender Nationwide Building Society said house prices fell for the second straight month in August but that overall price declines are likely to be "relatively modest."

The Bay Area's technology recovery has been so robust that the optimism has even spread to Oakland, which hasn't been a traditional start-up hub.

Crude-oil futures settled higher, helped by improving data on U.S. manufacturing and rising equities markets that trumped fears about increasing oil supplies.

The graying of America's work force is a fact of (longer) life. But it is amplified by changing work habits among different age groups.

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani gave the most detailed assessment yet of the damage wrought by flooding over the past month, saying the country had suffered economic losses of $43 billion from the deluge.

Private businesses laid off workers in August with the sector shedding 10,000 jobs as only large companies hired, according to payroll giant ADP.

Spanish leader expresses hope for deal with Beijing, as China's massive foreign currency reserves make it an increasingly attractive source of capital for corporate and political leaders

Manufacturing-sector growth in the euro zone slowed to its weakest pace in six months in August, signalling that the economic recovery may be losing some steam.

China's manufacturing rebounded in August, countering weakness in some other Asian economies and suggesting the region's growth won't slow down.

Retail sales in Germany fell unexpectedly in July, disappointing hopes that last month's upward revision to this year's data could signal a brighter trend.

Australia's economy grew at a faster-than-expected pace in the second quarter of 2010, buoyed by surging investment, government spending and solid export growth.

The blunt criticism by Germany's top central banker, Axel Weber, of the European Central Bank has led to lingering tension with others on the ECB governing council.

The Obama administration is considering a range of new measures to boost economic growth, including tax cuts and a new nationwide infrastructure program, according to people familiar with the discussions.

Fed officials wrestled with a slew of unanswered questions before deciding at their Aug. 10 meeting to alter their portfolio strategy, minutes ahowed.

U.S. home prices rose 3.6% in the second quarter from a year earlier, according to the S&P Case-Shiller indexes, but gains decelerated as a tax credit wound down.

U.K. consumer lending rose at a slower rate in July as mortgage lending remained lackluster, underscoring the view that the housing market will remain subdued for some time.

The euro-zone unemployment rate remained at 10% for a fifth straight month in July, indicating that despite strong growth in the second quarter, the recovery has yet to result in the creation of many new jobs.

The Indian economy grew 8.8% from a year earlier in the April-June quarter, driven mainly by the strong performance of the manufacturing sector and services such as trade, hotels and communications.

Australia posted its narrowest trade deficit in more than 20 years as a mining boom continues to propel the economy even as the outlook for global growth remains murky.

The International Monetary Fund said it would broaden the kinds of loans it offers to encourage a large swath of developing countries to get financial help before they are engulfed in crisis.