Finance

Union Pacific expects to haul less freight in the second half of the year than it previously predicted, which isn’t a good sign for the economy. The Omaha, Nebraska-based railroad said Wednesday that the volume of cars, construction materials, grain and imported goods it will haul in the second half of the year will likely […]

The past glories and present struggles at American Airlines were on display across the country Wednesday. American flew its last two dozen MD-80 planes into retirement in the New Mexico desert. Some still bore the sleek, polished aluminum livery created in 1967 by Italian designer Massimo Vignelli. Few passengers will miss the noisy, smelly gas-guzzlers,

The Federal Reserve said Wednesday the U.S. economy is still growing steadily and most businesses are optimistic, even in the face of President Trump’s trade wars. In The Fed’s latest report on economic conditions nationwide, hiring increased modestly in most industries, though manufacturing employment declined in some areas. The survey covers mid-July to late-August. The

In the age of Uber Eats and GrubHub, delivering pizza for the local Domino’s may seem like a throwback. But for drivers who want more predictable hours and pay — and discounts on food — restaurants may be the better bet. Despite pressure from third-party apps, a few big chains continue to use their own

Stocks moved broadly higher on Wall Street Wednesday as investors pivoted to riskier holdings a day after taking shelter from the latest salvos in the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China. Investors snapped up technology, industrial and bank stocks. Encouraging overseas developments helped paint a more stable economic picture, despite the ongoing trade

The U.S. trade deficit declined in July, including the gap with China that has been the focus of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. The Commerce Department said Wednesday that the gap between the goods and services the U.S. buys and what it sells abroad fell 2.7% to $54 billion in July from June. Exports rose 0.6%

There is at least one bull market underway: in recession fears. It’s apparent in how ordinary Americans are thinking about the economy. In August, consumer sentiment suffered its biggest drop since 2012, and Google searches for the term “recession” surged to their highest levels in more than a decade. There are also signs that business

Asian stock markets rose Wednesday following surprise weakness in U.S. manufacturing and wrangling in Britain over the country’s departure from the European Union. Benchmarks in Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong advanced. The Institute for Supply Management, an association of purchasing managers, said its manufacturing index slid to a 3½-year low of 49.1 last month from

Walmart has won praise from gun control advocates for its decision to discontinue sales of certain gun ammunition and request that customers no longer openly carry firearms in its stores. But whether the moves will translate into fewer guns on the street remains an open question. The announcement Tuesday follows similar steps by other retailers

U.S. construction spending ticked up just 0.1% in July, aided by government spending on schools, sewers and the water supply. The Commerce Department said Tuesday that spending on construction projects in July occurred at a seasonally adjusted annual pace of $1.29 trillion. So far this year, construction spending has tumbled 2.1%, dragged down by a