Martin Crutsinger

Read the latest stories and analysis from Martin Crutsinger.

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen removes her glasses as she testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, July 16, 2014, before the House Financial Services Committee hearing entitled: "Monetary Policy and the State of the Economy. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Yellen rejects move to set up formula for Fed

Martin Crutsinger · July 16, 2014 5:54 pm

FILE - In this July 2, 2014, file photo, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen speaks at the International Monetary Fund in Washington. Yellen testifies to a Senate committee to deliver the Fed's twice-a-year report to Congress on interest-rate policy and the economy on Tuesday, July 15, 2014. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

Labor market still needs Fed support, chair says

Martin Crutsinger · July 15, 2014 8:45 pm

FILE - This March 14, 2014 file photo shows the Federal Reserve headquarters building in Washington. In the minutes of the Federal Reserve's June 17-18 meeting issued Wednesday, July 9, 2014, Fed officials had differing views on the best way to signal to financial markets when they might raise a key short-term interest rate. They were in broad agreement, however, that their monthly bond buying program will end in October. (AP Photo/J. David Ake, File)

Fed sees October end for monthly bond buying

Martin Crutsinger · July 9, 2014 9:55 pm

This Monday, May 19, 2014 photo shows a duplex home for sale in the Coconut Grove neighborhood in Miami. Freddie Mac releases weekly mortgage rates on Thursday, July 3, 2014. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Average rate on 30-year mortgages dips this week

Martin Crutsinger · July 3, 2014 3:39 pm

In this Monday, April 21, 2014 photo, a worker inspects a crate that will be loaded on the Amsterdam-bound Fortunagracht at the Port of Cleveland in Cleveland. The Commerce Department releases international trade data for May on Thursday, July 3, 2014. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

US trade deficit drops to $44.4 billion in May

Martin Crutsinger · July 3, 2014 1:25 pm

Applications for US unemployment benefits edge up

Martin Crutsinger · July 3, 2014 12:35 pm

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen speaks at the International Monetary Fund in Washington, Wednesday, July 2, 2014. Yellen said she doesn't see a need for the Fed to start raising interest rates to address the risk that extremely low rates could destabilize the financial system. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Yellen sees little threat to financial stability

Martin Crutsinger · July 2, 2014 6:22 pm

In this Friday, May 16, 2014 photo, cranes fill the skyline at the Brickell CityCentre construction site located in the center of the Brickell financial district in downtown Miami. The project is mixed use office, residential, hotel, retail and entertainment space. The Commerce Department reports on U.S. construction spending in May on Tuesday, July 1, 2014. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

US construction spending up 0.1 percent in May

Martin Crutsinger · July 1, 2014 2:27 pm

Lew announces expanded housing support programs

Martin Crutsinger · June 26, 2014 10:46 pm

In this June 5, 2014 photo, Conquisia Tyler, right, gives change to a customer at Sam's Club in Bentonville, Ark. The Commerce Department releases personal income and spending for May on Thursday, June 26, 2014. (AP Photo/Sarah Bentham)

Consumer spending in May was disappointingly weak

Martin Crutsinger · June 26, 2014 2:08 pm

In this Friday, June 6, 2014 photo, executive chef Raymond Nicholson cuts a corned beef reuben sandwich at Corky & Lenny's Restaurant & Deli in Woodmere Village, Ohio. The Commerce Department releases first-quarter gross domestic product on Wednesday, June 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

US economy shrank at steep 2.9 percent rate in Q1

Martin Crutsinger · June 25, 2014 7:02 pm

In this May 21, 2014 photo, a sign sits in front of a home for sale in West Des Moines, Iowa. The Commerce Department releases new home sales for May on Tuesday, June 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

US new home sales rocket higher in May

Martin Crutsinger · June 24, 2014 2:44 pm