Scott Horsley

is back below $60 a barrel.

Fewer people filed new applications for unemployment benefits last week than the week before.

That suggests that even though the pace of hiring has slowed down, layoffs remain relatively rare.

As of late December, 2.2 million people were receiving some form of jobless assistance.

Asian stocks were mixed overnight down in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Tokyo, but up in Seoul.

Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

Sales of existing homes rose more than 5% in December compared to the previous month.

Mortgage rates have fallen from nearly 7% a year ago to just over 6% today.

A new report from the Commerce Department says retail sales picked up in November.

Consumer spending at restaurants, stores, and gas stations rose by 0.6% during the month.

Thanks to President Trump's tariffs, the U.S.

is buying less from China, but China's buying plenty of other buyers around the world.

Exports from the world's second-largest economy rose 5.5% last year, and China's trade surplus grew to a record $1.2 trillion.

Sales of existing homes rose more than 5% in December compared to the previous month.

Mortgage rates have fallen from nearly 7% a year ago to just over 6% today.

The average selling price for a home last month was just over $405,000.

A new report from the Commerce Department says retail sales picked up in November.

Consumer spending at restaurants, stores, and gas stations rose by 0.6% during the month.

Thanks to President Trump's tariffs, the U.S.

is buying less from China, but China is buying plenty of other buyers around the world.