Martin Crutsinger

Read the latest stories and analysis from Martin Crutsinger.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde speaks on "The Challenges Facing the Global Economy" ahead of the 2014 IMF/World Bank Annual meetings, Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014, at Georgetown University in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

IMF head: Improved policies needed to boost growth

Martin Crutsinger · October 2, 2014 4:32 pm

In this Sept. 17, 2014 photo, workers at the Dusky Marine factory in Dania Beach, Fla., begin to assemble one of the custom boats they built at the family owned business. Each year the company makes 50-100 fishing boats. The Commerce Department releases factory orders for August on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

US factory orders posted record drop in August

Martin Crutsinger · October 2, 2014 2:43 pm

In this photo made on Monday, Sept. 22, 2014, work continues at a construction site in Pittsburgh. The Commerce Department releases construction spending for August on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2014. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

US construction spending down 0.8 percent

Martin Crutsinger · October 1, 2014 4:50 pm

US and Brazil resolve cotton trade fight

Martin Crutsinger · October 1, 2014 3:01 pm

AP Source: US and Brazil resolve trade fight

Martin Crutsinger · October 1, 2014 1:22 am

In this Sept. 18, 2014 photo, Douglas De Leo hands customers a bag of produce at the Kalamazoo Farmers Market in Kalamazoo, Mich. The Conference Board releases the Consumer Confidence Index for September on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014. (AP Photo/Kalamazoo Gazette-MLive Media Group, Katie Alaimo) ALL LOCAL TELEVISION OUT; LOCAL TELEVISION INTERNET OUT

US consumer confidence slides in September

Martin Crutsinger · September 30, 2014 5:32 pm

In this Sept. 4, 2014 photo, Frances Gurley shops at a Family Dollar store in Wilmington, N.C. The Commerce Department releases its August report on consumer spending, which accounts for 70 percent of economic activity, on Monday, Sept. 29, 2014. (AP Photo/The Star-News, Matt Born)

US consumer spending up 0.5 percent in August

Martin Crutsinger · September 29, 2014 4:33 pm

In this Sept. 19, 2014 photo, Laurette Eugene makes the final assembly of body armor at the Point Blank Body Armor factory in Pompano Beach, Fla. The government issues its third and final estimate of how fast the U.S. economy grew in the April-June quarter on Friday, Sept. 26, 2014. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

Economy’s Q2 rebound was even faster than thought

Martin Crutsinger · September 26, 2014 10:17 pm

In this Sept. 19, 2014 photo, workers assemble body armor in the sewing area in the Point Blank Body Armor factory in Pompano Beach, Fla. The Commerce Department releases its report on August durable goods orders on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

US durable goods fell 18.2 percent in August

Martin Crutsinger · September 25, 2014 1:53 pm

Fed’s Evans sees dangers from premature rate hike

Martin Crutsinger · September 24, 2014 9:19 pm

FILE - In this June 24, 2014 file photo, Philadelphia Federal Reserve President Charles Plosser is interviewed by senior Washington correspondent Peter Barnes, on the Fox Business Network, in New York. Plosser, a leading inflation "hawk" at the Federal Reserve, on Monday, Sept. 22, 2014 said he will retire in March. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

Plosser, a leading Fed ‘hawk,’ to retire in March

Martin Crutsinger · September 22, 2014 4:17 pm

In this July 17, 2014 photo, construction workers build a commercial complex in Springfield, Ill. The Conference Board reports on its August index of leading economic indicators, which is designed to predict the economy's future health, on Friday, Sept. 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

Gauge of US economy edges up 0.2 percent in August

Martin Crutsinger · September 19, 2014 2:48 pm