Martin Crutsinger

Read the latest stories and analysis from Martin Crutsinger.

The International Monetary Fund is slightly more optimistic about the global and U.S. economies this year than it was three months ago.

IMF raises outlook for global and US economies

Associated Press, Martin Crutsinger · January 21, 2014 4:23 pm

On Monday, the Senate is scheduled to vote on the nomination of Janet Yellen, the current Federal Reserve vice chairwoman, to replace Ben Bernanke as chairman. (AP/Jacquelyn Martin)

Janet Yellen favors gender-neutral title of Fed ‘chair’

Martin Crutsinger · January 21, 2014 5:00 am

A builder works on the the roof of a new home under construction on Friday, Dec. 27, 2013., in Wilmette, Ill. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

US homebuilding dips, but year best since ’07

Martin Crutsinger · January 17, 2014 3:29 pm

Outgoing Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke speaks about the Federal Reserve's first and next century, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014, at the Brookings Institution in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Bernanke likens ’08 financial crisis to car crash

Martin Crutsinger · January 16, 2014 7:30 pm

Foreign holdings of US Treasury debt advance

Martin Crutsinger · January 16, 2014 3:08 pm

FILE - In this Oct. 12, 2013 file photo International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde speaks in Washington. Lagarde warned policymakers on Wednesday to avoid mistakes that could derail a fragile global recovery. Lagarde said that Congress should promptly increase the U.S. government's borrowing limit and the Federal Reserve should avoid withdrawing its financial support too rapidly. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

IMF head urges caution to avoid harming recovery

Martin Crutsinger · January 15, 2014 8:55 pm

Administration fails in bid to win IMF funding

Martin Crutsinger · January 14, 2014 7:46 pm

FILE - In this Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013, file photo, the U.S. Capitol is shown in Washington. The U.S. government ran a $53.2 billion surplus in December, signaling further improvement in the nation's finances. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Federal government runs December surplus of $53.2B

Martin Crutsinger · January 13, 2014 8:28 pm

Federal Reserve paid government $77.7B in 2013

Martin Crutsinger · January 10, 2014 11:00 pm

FILE - In this Monday, Dec. 16, 2013, file photo, driver Kyle Woodroof loads packages in his delivery truck, Monday, Dec. 16, 2013, in Kansas City, Mo. Th e Commerce Department reports how much wholesalers adjusted their stockpiles in November and how much their sales changed on Friday, Jan. 10, 2014. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

US wholesale stockpiles up 0.5 percent in November

Martin Crutsinger · January 10, 2014 3:22 pm

Fed reduced bond buys after seeing big job gains

Martin Crutsinger · January 8, 2014 9:53 pm

FILE - In this March 1, 2013, file photo, a crane removes a container from a ship at the Port of Baltimore's Seagirt Marine Terminal in Baltimore. The trade gap dropped 12.9 percent in November to $34.3 billion, the Commerce Department said Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014. That's the smallest monthly trade deficit since October 2009. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

US trade deficit declines to $34.3B billion

Martin Crutsinger · January 7, 2014 2:56 pm