U.S. worker productivity barely grew from January through March after shrinking in the final three months of 2012. Weak productivity growth could prompt employers to hire more if consumers and businesses continue to increase spending.

Ford, GM, Chrysler and Nissan all reported double-digit U.S. sales increases last month, signaling the best April for car and truck sales in six years.

The shortage of homes is occurring just as ordinary Americans want to buy again. More of them feel confident about their job and retirement account. Mortgage rates are near historic lows. And prices are rising again.

Americans' confidence in the economy jumped this month, helped by a better outlook for the job market and expectations for higher pay.

Over the past year, better economic conditions and record-low interest rates have sent more buyers back to the market, boosting profits for companies like Weyerhauser.

The economy rebounded from an anemic 0.4 percent annual growth rate in the October-December quarter.

Ben Bernanke is intensifying speculation that this year will be his last as Federal Reserve chairman by deciding to skip the Fed's annual August conference in Jackson Hole, Wyo.

State officials say Oregon's unemployment rate continues to inch down and was at 8.2 percent last month.

The price of gold logged its biggest one-day decline in more than 30 years Monday, tumbling $140.30, or 9 percent, to $1,361.

From household wealth to spending at stores, many of the U.S. economy's vital signs have recovered from the damage done by the Great Recession.

The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits jumped by 16,000 last week, the second straight weekly increase. But the longer-term trend in layoffs remained consistent with an improved job market.