> Eyeing inflation, Fed ends 9-month run of cuts (06/25/2008)
WASHINGTON - The Federal Reserve, navigating treacherous economic waters, decided on Wednesday to leave a key interest rate unchanged, bringing an end to a string of consecutive rate cuts.

more...

> Fed Keeps Rates Steady, but Notes Inflation Worries (06/25/2008)
Caught between inflationary pressures and a weakening economy, the Federal Reserve’s policy makers voted on Wednesday to deal primarily with the weakening economy by keeping interest rates at their present level.

more...

> State to borrow $3.9 billion for school construction (06/24/2008)
The state Legislature on Monday approved borrowing $3.9 billion for school construction, with both supporters and detractors saying they voted with the children in mind.
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> House Passes Spending Package With $11 Billion for Construction (06/20/2008)
The House has approved a revised, two-part supplemental spending bill that would set aside $165.4 billion for the Dept. of Defense to continue the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and $21.1 billion for DOD construction and funds for other agencies. The package, approved June 19, includes about $11 billion for defense and nondefense construction programs. more...

> Jobless claims decline by 5,000 following surge (06/19/2008)
WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of newly laid-off workers filing applications for unemployment benefits dropped slightly last week but remained at a level showing the strains of a weak economy. more...

> Unemployment rises, N.J. gains only 100 jobs (06/19/2008)
TRENTON (AP) -- Unemployment in New Jersey rose by a half percent to 5.4 percent in May, the largest increase in more than two years. more...

> State's job growth at a standstill (06/19/2008)
New Jersey's economy provided new evidence yesterday that job growth has ground to a halt, and the pain of unemployment is spreading: The state's unemployment rate jumped to 5.4 percent in May, from a revised 4.9 percent in April, and employer payrolls were flat. more...

> Fed boxed by inflation, slow growth (06/18/2008)
WASHINGTON -- Wholesale prices barreled ahead while housing and industrial activity faltered -- a blend of high-costs and slow growth that ensures the Federal Reserve's most likely move on interest rates next week will be no move whatsoever. more...

> N.J. unemployment rate sees largest jump in 2 years (06/18/2008)
New Jersey added 100 jobs in May, the third month the employment level has remained largely unchanged, but the unemployment rate took the largest jump in 25 months. more...

> Reports a 'negative cocktail' for economy (06/18/2008)
The U.S. economy may be suffering from its first bout of stagflation since the start of this decade, reports on housing, prices and manufacturing indicated. more...

> Why It’s Worse Than You Think (06/16/2008)
For months, economic Pollyannas have looked beyond the dismal headlines and promised a quick recovery in the second half. They're dead wrong. more...

> Jobless claims jump to highest level since late March (06/12/2008)
WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of people filing new claims for unemployment benefits jumped last week to the highest level since late March. more...

> House OKs $14.4B high-speed rail service for Northeast Corridor (06/12/2008)
WASHINGTON — Train travelers moved closer to a faster trip to New York or Washington with House passage of a bill supporting construction of a new high-speed rail system in the Northeast. more...

> Understanding the unemployment rate (06/08/2008)
On Friday, the U.S. Labor Department reported the sharpest monthly jump in the unemployment rate in more than 20 years -- from 5.0 percent in April to 5.5 percent in May. And for the fifth straight month, American employers cut jobs last month, a total of nearly 50,000. more...

> Jobless rate jumped to 5.5 percent in May (06/06/2008)
WASHINGTON - The nation’s unemployment rate jumped to 5.5 percent in May — the biggest monthly rise since 1986 — as nervous employers cut 49,000 jobs. more...

> Weekly Jobless Claims Unexpectedly Fall (06/05/2008)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless benefits fell unexpectedly last week to the lowest level since mid-April, a government report said Thursday, raising optimism that the sluggish economy may skirt a recession. more...

> Groups brace for deep cuts in NJ spending (06/05/2008)
As legislative leaders privately tried to iron out the final details of a budget Wednesday, groups that seek state money said they are bracing for unprecedented cuts. more...

> Jobless claims show unexpected improvement (06/05/2008)
WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of laid-off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits showed an unexpected improvement last week although a key indicator of unemployment hit a four-year high. more...

> Linking Parkway, Rt. 78 (06/02/2008)
For 30 years, drivers on the Garden State Parkway have had only limited access to Route 78.

For 20 years, they've been promised full access was on the way.

more...

> Report issues bleak forecast (05/28/2008)
Not since George H.W. Bush ran the White House have consumers felt so downbeat about the economy. And the catalyst for much of the gloom -- the housing slump -- shows no signs of abating, new data yesterday showed. more...

> Credit crisis claims thousands of jobs (05/28/2008)
It's as if the entire work force at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley vanished in less than a year. more...

> Jersey bruised, but not broken (05/25/2008)
If New Jersey were a stock, it would look a lot like Microsoft -- a mature company past its prime, whose fast growth, high-flying days are well behind it. more...

> There's light at the end of the tunnel (05/25/2008)
I understand many of you are pessimistic about the future. You have good reason to be. But I think some recent events qualify as at least a glimmer of hope in what has been a very dark start to 2008. more...

> Fed forecasts slower growth in '08 (05/22/2008)
WASHINGTON -- The Federal Reserve yesterday sharply lowered its projection for economic growth this year, citing blows from the housing and credit debacles along with zooming energy prices. It also expects higher unemployment and inflation. more...

> Index says economy down, but not out (05/20/2008)
Gas prices are high, food's more expensive and the job market's cold, but the United States may still avoid a recession. more...

> Jobless rate rises in N.J. (05/15/2008)
New Jersey's unemployment rate edged up to 5 percent in April, from 4.8 percent, as state payrolls have shed nearly 10,000 jobs since the start of the year, the state reported yesterday. more...

> Inflation Easing, Despite Food Costs (05/14/2008)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Inflation pressures eased a bit in April despite the biggest jump in food prices in 18 years. more...

> Corzine: NJ windfall should cut debt (05/14/2008)
Gov. Jon Corzine acknowledged Tuesday that New Jersey is getting an unexpected budget windfall, but he said the extra cash should be socked away to help reduce the state's debt rather than spent to restore proposed cuts. more...

> Fed's relief efforts paying off, but crisis is far from over (05/14/2008)
Turmoil in financial markets has eased somewhat, but the situation is still "far from normal," Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said yesterday. more...

> Economic reports may be misleading (05/13/2008)
WASHINGTON -- The unemployment rate drops. Productivity grows. The trade deficit shrinks. Sounds great, right? Not so fast.

more...

> NJ budget shifts to black from red (05/13/2008)
Legislative budget analysts are set to announce today that they believe New Jersey is heading into the next budget year with a windfall, not a shortfall. more...

> Road, rail work spells jobs, taxes (04/24/2008)
The money New Jersey plans to spend over the next decade on highway, rail and bridge projects will create 26,800 jobs a year and generate more than $1.5 billion in state and local tax revenue, a Rutgers University study found.

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> Report: Many New Jerseyans can't afford bare-bones needs (04/10/2008)
TRENTON -- One in five New Jerseyans aren't paid enough to afford bare-bone necessities without seeking outside help, as the gap between their earned income and cost of living widens, a report released by poverty advocacy groups Wednesday says. more...

> Self-sufficiency eludes 1 in 5 in N.J. (04/10/2008)
One in five New Jerseyans -- 1.68 million adults and children -- cannot afford to live without some kind of public assistance, according to a report issued yesterday by Legal Services of New Jersey's Poverty Research Institute. more...

> Trade deficit wider; jobless claims drop (04/10/2008)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. trade deficit unexpectedly rose for a second straight month in February as a big jump in imports of foreign-made cars offset the first decline in oil imports in a year. more...

> Financial stress shows (04/06/2008)
The burden of oversized mortgages and credit-card debt is proving to be overwhelming for an increasing number of consumers, as rising gas and food prices squeeze household incomes. more...

> That weight you feel is state's debt burden (04/05/2008)
New Jersey residents continued to grapple with one of the heaviest state debt loads in the nation last year, a new survey of public borrowing shows. more...

> Jobless claims reach two-year peak (04/04/2008)
WASHINGTON -- The number of new people signing up for unemployment benefits last week shot up to the highest level in more than two years, fresh evidence of the damage to a national economy clobbered by housing, credit and financial crises. more...

> Ailing economy may force more cuts to state budget (04/04/2008)
Less than six weeks after proposing more than $1.9 billion in cuts to spending, Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday said it may be necessary to slash the state budget even deeper. more...

> Talk in Trenton turns to slowing economy (04/03/2008)
On the same day Federal Reserve chairman testified in Washington that the nation may be lapsing into recession, a South Jersey economist told lawmakers in Trenton he expects it will be a short one. more...

> Jobless benefits in a bind (04/02/2008)
Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday proposed an emergency $260 million infusion into the fund that bankrolls benefit checks for laid-off workers, as rising joblessness and years of state budget raids pushed the fund toward insolvency. more...

> Manufacturing, construction weaken (04/01/2008)
NEW YORK (AP) -- Further weakness in the manufacturing sector and construction industry underscored concerns that the U.S. economy has fallen into recession, though most analysts believe a downturn will be mild and relatively short-lived. more...

> UPDATE: New Jersey signs trade deal with Chinese province (04/01/2008)
TRENTON — New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine and officials from China's Shandong Province signed a cultural and trade agreement today meant to boost economic ties between the two. more...

> Economy's days are darkening (03/28/2008)
Economists sound an awful lot like meterologists these days, predicting the course and severity of an approaching storm. more...

> Jersey's tax revenue outlook sinks by $134 million (03/25/2008)
In a sign that the faltering economy is further pinching state finances, nonpartisan legislative analysts believe state tax receipts over the next 15 months will be $134 million below those projected by the Corzine administration just a month ago. more...

> With Economy Tied to Wall St., New York Braces for Job Cuts (03/24/2008)
New York is accustomed to job losses on Wall Street. They come with just about every economic slump, and their impact is felt throughout the city. more...

> Working families struggle, despite NJ's wealth (03/24/2008)
New Jersey is the nation's second wealthiest state, but 20 percent of its working families don't earn enough money to adequately support themselves, a report found. more...

> Drop in jobs worries N.J. (03/20/2008)
New Jersey employers continued to cut jobs in February, adding more evidence the economic tur moil spreading across the country is hitting the state's labor market. more...

> Spotlight on economy: Fed chief fights crisis with all his weapons (03/16/2008)
For many, that's the extent of their Federal Reserve vocabulary list. That's because, as long as anyone can remember in the CNBC TV generation, that's about as creative as the Fed got when it tinkered with the economy and the financial markets. more...

> Economy in the eye of recession storm (03/14/2008)
WASHINGTON -- Oil hit a record high, the dollar sank again and consumers stopped buying pretty much everything. more...

> Job loss figures raise more alarm on the economy (03/08/2008)
Optimists on Wall Street were hoping for a sign the economy was slowly adding jobs again, forestalling a recession.

Instead, they got a cold, hard slap.
more...

> A shaky economy stirs job jitters in Jersey (03/07/2008)
Day after day, Roberta Weiss hopes to get the call that will send her back to work.

Weiss was laid off from a student-loan processing company late last year. She knew times were tough, but with 24 years of experience in information technology, she figured she'd find another job quickly.
more...

> Alarm doesn't rattle Bernanke, Bush (02/29/2008)
WASHINGTON -- The economy is in turmoil, yet President Bush and Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke say the country will weather the storm. Neither sees a recession on the horizon. more...

> N.J. job growth lags behind U.S. average (02/28/2008)
New Jersey's job market slowed to a near halt in 2007 and dropped precipitously at the beginning of 2008, the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development reported Wednesday.
more...

> Revised job figures reveal picture isn't so pretty in Jersey (02/28/2008)
New Jersey's economy isn't as healthy as state economic officials thought as recently as a few weeks ago.

more...

> Bayonne expansion (02/28/2008)
on track for '09

L ight rail is on the move and heading south.

more...

> Corzine Seeks to Cut N.J. Budget and Work Force (02/27/2008)
TRENTON — Declaring that New Jersey had reached an irrevocable “turning point” because of years of bad fiscal habits, Gov. Jon S. Corzine proposed a budget on Tuesday that would reduce the state’s work force by 3,000 people, close three departments and prune expenses for services including colleges and hospitals.

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> Forecast 2008 (02/24/2008)
Several massive development projects are gaining steam and reshaping the Meadowlands.

The projects include the Xanadu retail/entertainment complex, a new Giants-Jets stadium and the controversial EnCap project.

more...

> New Reports Signal Economic Slowdown (02/21/2008)
A manufacturing slowdown in the mid-Atlantic region this month reached its deepest in seven years, while an index of future economic activity fell for a fourth month, providing more evidence of a recession.

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> That ’70s Look: Stagflation (02/21/2008)
Lately, many people are hearing an echo — faintly perhaps but distinctly audible — of the stagflation of the 1970s. more...

> Rising Inflation Limits the Fed as Growth Lags (02/21/2008)
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve, for all its power, faces tough new limits on its ability to keep the economy out of a recession. more...

> Fed Forecasts Inflation, Unemployment (02/21/2008)
WASHINGTON - The Federal Reserve on Wednesday lowered its projection for economic growth this year, citing damage from the double blows of a housing slump and credit crunch. It said it also expects higher unemployment and inflation. more...

> Consumer Prices Rise Again in January (02/20/2008)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Consumer prices rose by a bigger-than-expected amount in January, reflecting big increases in the cost of food and health care, the government reported Wednesday.

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> Reduction in cargo at port reflects economic slowdown (02/19/2008)
It was a sign of the boom at the Port of New York and New Jersey.

In 2006, Maher Terminal in Elizabeth created an overnight shift, assigning longshoremen to rearrange stacks of cargo containers that had been delivered during the day to make room for new shipments.

more...

> On the bright side (02/07/2008)
The news on the economic front seems worse every day. We may soon be in a recession, if we're not in one already. more...

> Service sector report signals U.S. recession has arrived (02/06/2008)
NEW YORK -- Lingering hopes that the U.S. might avert a recession withered Tuesday after the nation's service sector -- its banks, travel companies, contractors and stores, among others -- shrank for the first time in five years. more...

> DOT Secretary Mary Peters Pushes Big Shift for Roads,Transit (02/06/2008)
It’s a chilly late January morning and U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters is in Montgomery, Ala., speaking bluntly about the need to revamp the nation’s highway program. At a press conference in a state transportation department maintenance shop, Peters praises Gov. Bob Riley (R), who’s standing nearby, for seeking to get the private sector more involved in road projects. Then she blasts the way the program operates now, declaring, “I have…zero confidence zero that if we send more money to Washington we’ll get any better results back.” more...

> Economic Census determines what N.J. really made of (02/03/2008)
New Jersey isn't the Garden State it once was, but just what has it become?
The Pharmaceutical State perhaps? Or, heaven forbid, the Toxic Waste Disposal State?


more...

> Labor pains: First drop in jobs since'03 (02/02/2008)
WASHINGTON -- In a shower of pink slips, U.S. employers cut jobs last month for the first time in more than four years, the starkest signal yet that the economy is grinding to a halt if it hasn't already toppled into recession.

more...

> U.S. Growth Slowed Drastically in 4th Quarter (01/31/2008)
The American economy expanded by a surprisingly weak 0.6 percent from October to December, the government reported Wednesday, offering the latest indication that the United States is already in the midst of a substantial slowdown and perhaps a recession. more...

> Economy Nearly Stalled in 4th Quarter (01/30/2008)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The economy nearly stalled in the fourth quarter with a growth rate of just 0.6 percent, capping its worst year since 2002.

more...

> Unemployment rate up slightly (01/30/2008)
Unemployment in the Lehigh Valley and Warren County jumped half a percentage point in December -- that's equal to 2,400 people -- according to the state Department of Labor & Industry.

more...

> A January to forget (01/30/2008)
In the 20 years Mike Marcotullio has worked on Wall Street, he's seen historic market reversals that pushed weaker men to the brink of despair. more...

> Counties that pay heavy toll to get most aid (01/26/2008)
New Jersey will spend more than $42 billion on highway, bridge and transit projects over the next decade if Gov. Jon Corzine's plan to borrow against future toll increases is approved by the Legislature, according to data released last night.

more...

> Deal Reached on Economic Stimulus Plan (01/25/2008)
House leaders announced Jan. 24 that they had reached a deal with the White House on a package to jump-start the nation's slowing economy. The estimated $150-billion package is primarily targeted to middle-income Americans but includes tax relief and incentives for businesses that could go into effect this spring. There is no additional federal infrastructure spending in the plan. more...

> Economists tell us -- did the Federal Reserve panic? (01/23/2008)
The Federal Reserve's surprise move to slash the federal funds rate by three-quarters of a point yesterday was the Fed's biggest one-day rate cut in nearly two decades. more...

> The economy may be stronger than you think (01/21/2008)
THE JAN. 4 REPORT by the Bureau of Labor Statistics that the nation's unemployment rate had risen from 4.7 percent in November to 5.0 percent in December sparked widespread fear that the U.S. economy has either entered a recession or is about to enter one.

more...

> Poor 2007 earnings dragging down 2008 (01/20/2008)
In Roman mythology, Janus is the god of doorways, and January is in turn the doorway of the year. For Wall Street, this first month of 2008 has brought none of the optimism the myth implies -- instead, a disappointing stream of economic and earnings reports has investors dreading what's still to come. more...

> Expert sees N.J. in a rut (01/18/2008)
New Jersey's economy will lag the nation's through 2017, a Rutgers economist predicted yesterday during a 10-year economic outlook conference in New Brunswick.

more...

> Recession talk includes local bright spots (01/10/2008)
A leading economist Wednesday painted a bleak picture of the nation's economy, saying the chances of a recession are 50-50, "at best."

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> Oil Extends Decline on Economy Worries (01/10/2008)
NEW YORK - Oil futures skidded lower Thursday on growing concerns that a U.S. economic slowdown is imminent and will depress demand.

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> Corzine plans major toll hike to pay debt (01/09/2008)
TRENTON - Years of fiscal gimmicks have left state government under a crushing debt burden with more problems to come, a stern Gov. Jon S. Corzine warned Tuesday in his State of the State speech. more...

> FINANCIAL NEWS: Poorer countries to offset US slowdown (01/09/2008)
Continued robust expansion in developing countries will help offset a slowdown in the United States this year amid concerns of a possible recession in the world's largest economy and oil prices will gradually decline, the World Bank today reported. more...

> Bush keeps eye on economy's health (01/09/2008)
WASHINGTON -- President Bush said yesterday he is watching very carefully to see if the struggling U.S. economy needs a short-term boost from the federal government.

more...

> Control of state's three toll roads would shift under Corzine proposal (01/08/2008)
Governor Corzine's plan to raise highway tolls to pay down state debt could turn over control of the state's toll roads to a public benefits corporation for the next 75 years.

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> Bush says economy will cope with crisis (01/08/2008)
CHICAGO -- President Bush said yesterday economic indicators are "increasingly mixed," causing anxiety for many Americans. But he said the economy is resilient and the country has dealt with anxiety before.

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> Economy may force fast action (01/07/2008)
WASHINGTON Ordinarily, voters might not expect much productivity out of a Republican White House and a Democratic Congress in a tough election year.

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> N.J.'s economic outlook bright in coming months (01/04/2008)
New Jersey likely will see moderate economic growth through this summer, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia forecast yesterday, citing a recent drop in unemployment claims.

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> Markets are mixed after labor report (12/08/2007)
Wall Street paused from its big rally yesterday, with stocks closing narrowly mixed after the government's November labor report showed tepid job growth as well as a pickup in inflation. The major indexes ended the week higher, with the Dow Jones industrials having gained nearly 900 points over nine trading days.

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> Job market's health is in stable condition (12/08/2007)
WASHINGTON -- Employers added a modest 94,000 jobs to their payrolls in November, the unemployment rate held steady at 4.7 percent and wages grew briskly, encouraging signs the nation's employment climate is holding up in the face of turbulence in the housing and credit markets.

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> Labor report sees spike in worker productivity (12/06/2007)
Worker productivity roared ahead at the fastest pace in four years in the summer while wage pressures dropped sharply.

more...

> State Budgets Are Feeling Pressure (12/05/2007)
States' spending and revenue will continue to rise this year, but problems in the housing market and other economic pressures will slow that rate of growth from last year's levels, says a new survey from the National Governors Association and National Association of State Budget Officials.

more...

> Government Appeals 'No-Match' Injunction (12/05/2007)
The U.S. Dept. of Justice Dec. 4 filed an appeal to a federal district court's injunction against the Dept. of Homeland Security's "no-match rule," firing the latest salvo in a battle between the government and business and labor groups.

more...

> Bernanke says US economy likely to slow (11/08/2007)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Thursday that a host of economic problems, including the severe housing slump, will cause business growth to slow noticeably in coming months.

more...

> Jobless claims down for last week (11/08/2007)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The number of laid-off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits dropped last week to the lowest level in a month, even though wildfires added to the unemployment rolls in California. more...

> State economy shows cracks in its armor (10/19/2007)
New Jersey's work force should keep growing slowly, and there's no recession on the horizon, but the housing slump and "subprime" mortgage crisis could rattle the state's large and wealthy economy for many months to come. more...

> Economic index predicts slow growth (10/19/2007)
NEW YORK — A gauge of future economic activity edged higher in September, suggesting the economy may trudge forward at a modest pace despite a worsening housing slump.

more...

> PATH to expand capacity by 20 percent (10/18/2007)
The Port Authority will spend nearly $400 million to expand the capacity of its PATH system by 20 percent. more...

> State added 4,900 jobs last month (10/18/2007)
New Jersey added 4,900 jobs in September, prompting economists to express optimism about the health of the job market. more...

> Fed finds slower economic growth (10/18/2007)
WASHINGTON -- The economy logged slower growth in the early fall as troubles in the housing and credit markets weighed on companies and individuals alike, the Federal Reserve reported yesterday.

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> Job growth steady in New Jersey (10/18/2007)
New Jersey's unemployment rate held steady at 4.3 percent in September as employers added 4,900 workers to their payrolls, bringing total job growth to 17,700 so far this year, the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development reported yesterday.

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> Port Authority set to approve $400 million PATH investment (10/18/2007)
The PATH rail system will receive a nearly $400 million signal-system upgrade to help increase capacity 20 percent by 2014, officials said yesterday.

Commissioners for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the system, plan to pass a resolution today authorizing the expenditure.
more...

> Analysis Says N.J. Benefits Least from Federal Taxing and Spending (10/10/2007)
New Jersey is the most shortchanged state when it comes to federal taxing and spending, according to the Tax Foundation's latest annual analysis of federal taxing and spending patterns. more...

> Many flee N.J., a study shows (10/10/2007)
It could be over the high cost of living or just better opportunities elsewhere, but a new study confirmed what New Jersey residents and officials have thought for some time: Residents are fleeing the Garden State and it's making a dent in the economy.

more...

> Jerseyans leave at alarming rate (10/10/2007)
Residents are leaving New Jersey at three times the rate they were just five years ago, a trend that is already doing real damage to the state's economy and budget coffers, a new Rutgers University report shows. more...

> Economy is more of a concern, survey finds (10/10/2007)
A growing number of people say the economy is the nation's top problem, with the less educated among the most worried, an Associated Press-Ipsos poll showed yesterday.

more...

> Jobs data assuage recession fears (10/06/2007)
Fears the country could slide into a recession eased last month as employers created the most jobs in four months and workers' wages grew solidly. The unemployment rate crept up to 4.7 percent, the highest in more than a year but still low by historical standards.

more...

> Reports paint bleak picture (10/02/2007)
Worries about jobs and the economy flared in September, driving a key barometer of consumer sentiment to its lowest level in nearly two years, a private research group said yesterday.

more...

> Dollar's current doldrums something to worry about (09/26/2007)
The markets and Washington may be nonchalant about the tumbling dollar, but the rest of us can't afford to be.

more...

> Senate Clears $23-Billion WRDA, But Veto Threatened (09/25/2007)
The Senate has approved legislation that authorizes $23 billion for Army Corps of Engineers river locks and dams, harbor dredging and environmental restoration work around the country and also mandates independent reviews of large Corps projects. But the White House has threatened a veto of the measure, contending that it is too costly. more...

> State is No. 46 in the growth of personal income (09/21/2007)
TRENTON (AP) -- New Jersey ranked 46th in the rate of personal income growth in the second quarter of this year, according to U.S. Department of Commerce data released Thursday.
more...

> Mass layoffs declined in August (09/21/2007)
Mass layoffs across the nation in August declined compared to July as did associated initial filings for unemployment compensation, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics said today. more...

> Dollar tumbles worldwide (09/21/2007)
Thanks to a sinking U.S. dollar and soaring commodities prices that benefit resources-rich Canada, that country's currency as of Thursday can be exchanged 1-for-1 with the greenback for the first time in more than 30 years.

more...

> State adds jobs, pares unemployment (09/20/2007)
New Jersey employers added 500 jobs in August, or 15,500 for the first eight months of the year, while the unemployment rate fell to 4.3 percent, from 4.6 percent in July, the state Department of Labor and Workforce development announced yesterday.

more...

> NJDOT gives Mercer $2.8M for upgrades (09/14/2007)
Mercer County will receive more than $2.8 million from the state Department of Transportation to fund street improvement, rehabilitation and safety projects, it was announced yesterday.

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> 'Tepid' growth predicted for the economy (09/13/2007)
LOS ANGELES -- Ongoing weakness in the housing market will push the national economy to the brink of recession, but growth in other areas should put the coun try back on a slow road to recovery by 2009, according to an economic forecast released yesterday.

more...

> Senate Passes DOT Spending Bill, Rejects Plan to Waive Davis-Bacon (09/13/2007)
The Senate has approved legislation that would increase federal highway and transit funding in fiscal year 2008, but turned back a proposal to waive Davis–Bacon wage requirements on projects to upgrade deficient bridges. more...

> No hiring freeze as companies plan to add jobs (09/11/2007)
MILWAUKEE -- Employers are predicting another stable quarter of hiring, with 27 percent of companies expecting to add positions in the last three months of the year, according to a survey of 14,000 companies being released yesterday.

more...

> Toll road plan hits dead end with most (09/03/2007)
TRENTON Even before Labor Day unofficially kicks off election season, local officials around the state have ramped up opposition to Gov. Jon S. Corzine's proposal to make money off state toll roads.

more...

> NJ tops nation in household income (08/28/2007)
WASHINGTON - Though New Jersey is one of the country’s richest states, more than 1 million of its residents lack health insurance.
more...

> Poverty Rate Falls, but More Are Uninsured (08/28/2007)
The nation’s poverty rate fell in 2006 for the first time this decade, the Census Bureau reported today, even as the percentage of Americans without health insurance coverage hit a record high.

more...

> N.J. no longer tops in income (08/28/2007)
New Jersey’s six-year reign as the state with the highest household income is over, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released Tuesday. more...

> N.J. adds jobs at fast clip (08/16/2007)
New Jersey added 5,400 jobs in July but unemployment rose, shedding little light on where we're headed.

more...

> Unemployment rises even as N.J. gains jobs (08/16/2007)
A strong gain of 5,400 jobs propelled New Jersey payrolls to an all-time high of 4.1 million working people in July -- even as a rise in the state's unemployment rate to 4.6 percent, from June's 4.3 percent, reflected a puzzling decline in the state's total labor force.

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> Bayonne: Light Rail hikes values (08/16/2007)
NJ Transit's expansion of its Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Transit System to its southernmost point - Eighth Street in Bayonne - figures to be an engine for stimulating additional economic growth in the area, real estate and transit analysts say.

more...

> July inflation slows (08/16/2007)
A big drop in the cost of gasoline in July contributed to the smallest rise in consumer prices in eight months while industrial output posted a solid gain.

more...

> State rebuilds school construction program (08/07/2007)
Seeking a fresh start for New Jersey's effort to rebuild hundreds of decrepit public schools in the state's poorest communities, Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday signed legislation that formally abolishes the scandal-plagued Schools Construction Corp.

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> Job Growth in July Is the Slowest in Months (08/03/2007)
The job market lost some of its punch last month as employers added 92,000 jobs — the fewest number in five months, the Labor Department said today.

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> N.J. trails nation in job growth (07/20/2007)
New Jersey's "extremely slow" rate of job growth -- 0.5 percent annually -- will yield only about 20,000 new jobs this year, as the state's economy lags the nation and the region. But over the next decade, the job-creation rate could almost double to 0.9 percent, generating nearly 40,000 new jobs a year.

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> Fed Chief Cautious on Economy (07/18/2007)
WASHINGTON, July 18 (Reuters) — The Federal Reserve chairman, Ben S. Bernanke, told Congress today that the United States economy will grow gradually this year and gain steam in 2008, but warned there are many risks to the outlook and stressed that the Fed is on guard against inflation. more...

> Business outlook for area: growth is on the horizon (07/18/2007)
CHERRY HILL — Mitchell P. Koza, dean of the Rutgers School of Business at Camden, said growth and continued expansion are on the horizon for the remainder of the business year, but warned that whatever goes up must also come down. more...

> Inflation abates as food, gas costs fall (07/18/2007)
WASHINGTON -- Wholesale inflation posted a better-than-expected reading as both food and energy costs retreated in June. Industrial production rebounded as well, but homebuilders' confidence fell to the lowest level in 16 years as the housing slump persisted.

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> NJ Transit okays two new budgets (07/12/2007)
The NJ Transit board yesterday approved a $1.3 billion capital budget that provides money for new buses and rail cars, expanded park-and-ride facilities, expanded rail and light rail services and major track, bridge and station improvements.

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> Businesses fear the cost of paid family leave in N.J. (06/18/2007)
When employees seek time off to care for a sick family member, newborn or newly adopted child, South Jersey Industries prefers to work out an arrangement with them independently. Offering solid benefits allows it to stay competitive, say officials at the Folsom-based company, which employs about 600 people.
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> Employment picture bright (06/17/2007)
Executives of local job search firms say the job market in Morris County reminds them of the heady pre-Sept. 11 times --almost.
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> N.J. jobless rate unmoved (06/14/2007)
TRENTON (AP) -- New Jer-sey's unemployment rate held steady for the third straight month in May at 4.3 percent, but the state added 5,400 new jobs during the month to reach record high employment at 4.093 million jobs.
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> Economy looking brighter (06/14/2007)
WASHINGTON -- The economy headed into the summer with better momentum, propelled by a manufacturing rebound and consumers who eagerly went shopping and sightseeing despite high gas prices.

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> NJ jobless rate holds steady at 4.3% (06/13/2007)
TRENTON (AP) -- New Jersey's unemployment rate held steady for the third straight month in May at 4.3 percent, but the state added 5,400 new jobs during the month to reach record high employment at 4.093 million jobs. more...

> N.J. budget framework deal struck (06/13/2007)
TRENTON — Gov. Jon S. Corzine's administration and lawmakers have agreed on the outlines of a state budget, Treasurer Bradley Abelow said Tuesday, setting up a smooth passage of the spending plan, perhaps as soon as next week.

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> No Longer The Red Tape State? (06/11/2007)
STATEHOUSE - When Unilever—the British maker of Dove Soap, Lipton Tea and Skippy Peanut Butter—agreed last October to bring 300 to 400 new jobs to New Jersey, the deal was sealed by a new and little-known state group within the Corzine administration called the Action Council for the Economy. more...

> Factory jobs: 3 million lost since 2000 (04/20/2007)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Three weeks ago, Dawn Zimmer became a statistic. Laid off from her job assembling trucks at Freightliner's plant in Portland, Ore., she and 800 of her colleagues joined a long line of U.S. manufacturing workers who have lost jobs in recent years. A total of 3.2 million - one in six factory jobs - have disappeared since the start of 2000.

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> Jobless fund called 'close to the edge' (04/19/2007)
Dwindling assets have pushed the fund that bankrolls unemployment benefits for jobless New Jerseyans to the brink of fiscal col lapse, but have stayed just shy of the line that would trigger a $400 million-a-year business tax hike, state Labor Commissioner David Socolow told lawmakers yesterday.

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> Jump in jobs and jobless during March (04/19/2007)
New Jersey gained 4,900 jobs in March, with the private sector accounting for most of the added employment, while the state's unemployment rate edged up to 4.3 percent from 4.1 percent in February.

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> Billions to repair roads, bridges, aid transit (04/19/2007)
Transportation officials plan to pour $3.3 billion into repairing bridges and roads, including some in Hudson County, while upgrading mass transit throughout New Jersey, under a program dubbed "Fix It First" unveiled earlier this month.

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> N.J. jobless rate drops once again (03/01/2007)
TRENTON (AP) -- The state's unemployment rate fell in January to 4.2 percent, the fifth consecutive month it has declined.
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> Reports offer tough economic news (03/01/2007)
WASHINGTON -- The economy grew at a sluggish 2.2 percent pace in the final quarter of last year, the government reported yesterday, in one of the steepest downward revisions in years. In another report, new-home sales plunged in January by the largest amount in 13 years.

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> $16M dedicated to new rail project (03/01/2007)
The Trans-Hudson Express Tunnel project will receive $16 million in federal funds, U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez announced yesterday.

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> Jersey rates well in 'new' economy (02/28/2007)
New Jersey is second only to Massachusetts in a ranking re leased yesterday of the states by their success at developing an in novative, knowledge-centric "new economy."

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> Gov plans to lease state assets (02/23/2007)
TRENTON New Jersey residents will pay no new taxes to balance the state's proposed $33.2 billion budget, and school districts, municipalities and higher education will receive a boost in funding.

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> Conflicting trends cloud hiring outlook (02/11/2007)
New Jersey is at an economic crossroads.

A year ago, economists predicted the state would add 35,000 to 44,000 jobs in 2006 -- a mediocre yet solid performance.

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> The Face of America's Underground Economy (02/09/2007)
Sandra understands more English than she speaks. She's about 20 years old, and graduated from a high school in Chicago. Sandra smiles a lot during a conversation as she stumbles for words to express herself without resorting to Spanish.

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> Union hopes to throw roadblock in path of highway privatization (02/06/2007)
The union representing toll collectors on the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway will begin airing radio ads today urging Gov. Jon Corzine to drop the idea of privatizing the state's highways. more...

> Cautious companies slow to hire (02/03/2007)
WASHINGTON -- The nation's unemployment rate climbed to a four-month high of 4.6 percent as somewhat wary employers added fewer new jobs in January. Wage gains were more modest. more...

> Assembly approves property tax cut (01/30/2007)
TRENTON — The state Assembly on Monday advanced a plan to lower the state's highest-in-the-nation property taxes through a combination of tax credits and spending limits on local governments. more...

> Tax-relief proposals advance (01/30/2007)
TRENTON — Plans for a 20 percent property-tax break for most homeowners and a 4 percent cap on annual property-tax hikes took their first formal step forward Monday as both measures won approval in the Assembly. more...

> Strong earnings growth to slow down, experts say (01/28/2007)
All streaks must come to an end. Investors accustomed to double-digit earnings growth should prepare for more earthbound numbers as Wall Street heads into the midpoint of the fourth-quarter reporting season.

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> State school construction program faces shutdown without new funding (01/25/2007)
New Jersey will have to start closing down its ambitious school construction program in May or June unless lawmakers move quickly to authorize new funding on top of the $8.6 billion allocated to the program six years ago.

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> Rutgers study finds flat economy (01/24/2007)
A downturn in housing transactions and volatile gasoline prices should keep the regional economy flat at best through the first half of 2007, a panel suggested Tuesday at a quarterly business outlook seminar sponsored by Rutgers University in Camden.

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> Inflation Has Best Showing in 3 Years (01/18/2007)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Labor Department reported Thursday that consumer prices rose by 2.5 percent in 2006, the best showing since prices had increased by just 1.9 percent in 2003. The improvement came in spite of the fact that consumer prices jumped 0.5 percent in December, as gasoline prices staged a momentary rebound.

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> Job growth 'moderate' (01/18/2007)
New Jersey added 20,500 jobs in 2006, less than half the increase in 2005, according to figures released by the state Labor Department on Wednesday.

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> Rutgers: State job growth to slow to 0.6% (01/18/2007)
NEW BRUNSWICK -- New Jersey is likely to see job growth of only 0.6 percent this year, down 50 percent from last year, when it trailed far behind the national average, according to the Rutgers Economic Advisory Service's semiannual forecast.
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> State jobless rate falls but growth rate lags U.S. (01/18/2007)
New Jersey's unemployment rate fell to 4.2 percent in December as 2,000 added jobs brought the full-year gain to an estimated 20,500 -- a mere blip in a 4 million-plus state work force whose growth dramatically lags the U.S. more...

> Jobless claims fall to 11-month low (01/18/2007)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The number of newly laid off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits fell last week to the lowest level in 11 months, indicating a solid labor market at the beginning of the year. more...

> N.J. economy to see 'correction, not a crash' (01/18/2007)
New Jersey is likely to see job growth of only 0.6 percent this year, down 50 percent from last year, when it already trailed far behind the national average, according to the Rutgers Economic Advisory Service's semiannual forecast. more...

> House votes to lift worker wages (01/11/2007)
Congress moved yesterday to boost the federal minimum wage more than $2 an hour during the next two years -- to a level that will barely be above New Jersey's cur rent wage floor.

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> November Construction Climbs 4 Percent (01/05/2007)
NEW YORK, NY - At a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $621.5 billion, new construction starts in November rose 4% compared to the previous month, according to McGraw-Hill Construction, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies. more...

> Fed: N.J. growth nearly halts (12/28/2006)
TRENTON -- New Jersey's economy was all but stagnant last month after two months of healthy growth, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia reported Wednesday.
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> Consumer confidence improved in December (12/28/2006)
NEW YORK (AP) -- Consumer confidence improved to its strongest level in eight months in December after lackluster performance through the fall, but a private research group said Thursday it was too soon to determine if its reading was signaling genuine improvement.

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> Trade group sees growth slowing in "07 (12/27/2006)
WASHINGTON — A trade group representing the nation's manufacturers yesterday predicted a soft landing for the U.S. economy in 2007, despite expectations that residential real estate will act as a drag on growth.

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> Economic news good, but markets slip anyway (12/23/2006)
Stocks slid yesterday after wan ing enthusiasm among investors ahead of the holiday weekend overshadowed data showing higher consumer spending and a jump in sales of big-ticket goods in November. A weak bond market also weighed on stocks.

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> Jobless rate up, despite gains (12/20/2006)
New Jersey's unemployment rate rose to 4.5 percent in November, the same as the national jobless rate, as 900 added jobs kept state payrolls at near record levels. more...

> October loss adds to job-growth woes (11/16/2006)
New Jersey is on the path toward extremely weak job growth for 2006, as a 2,200 drop in payrolls in October brings job gains so far this year to just 17,000 -- dramatically below the 50,000 the state historically has added in an average year.

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> Economic stakes in a Hill turnover (11/06/2006)
WASHINGTON -- Policy debates affecting every corner of the economy are likely to shift in major ways if tomorrow's election gives Democrats more power in Congress.

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> Greenspan: Economic downturn ‘likely temporary’ (11/06/2006)
WASHINGTON (Dow Jones/AP) — The current economic downturn is “likely temporary,” former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said Monday, noting that the worst of the housing market slump is likely past.

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> Jobless rate hits 5-year low (11/04/2006)
WASHINGTON -- The unemployment rate sank to a five-year low of 4.4 percent and workers' wages grew solidly last month, flashing a picture of a jobs market on firm footing as voters go to the polls.

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> DOT begins work on clogged Parkway-Rt. 280 link (11/04/2006)
An 18-month, $17 million facelift is under way on one of the most congested highway interchanges in all of New Jersey. more...

> Productivity falls across U.S. (11/03/2006)
WASHINGTON — Growth in productivity — the key ingredient for rising living standards — skidded to a standstill in the late summer while workers' wages and benefits shot up at the fastest clip in more than two decades. more...

> The Economy | Slowdown: What kind is this one? (11/01/2006)
Is the U.S. economy running on fumes, or is this just the pause that refreshes? more...

> Wages, Benefits Up at 2-Year Best Pace (10/31/2006)
WASHINGTON - Wages and benefits paid to American workers rose in the July-September period at the fastest pace in more than two years.

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> Economic growth slows (10/28/2006)
Economic growth slowed to a crawl in the third quarter, advanc ing at a pace of just 1.6 percent, the worst in more than three years.

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> As Housing Quickly Sags, Signs for 2007 Remain Strong (10/27/2006)
With residential building quickly cooling off, construction's growth party could be winding down even as business in most other segments remains steady to robust, according to a forecast by McGraw-Hill Construction.

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> P.A. likely to OK $75M as part of tunnel project (10/19/2006)
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is expected to approve $75 million today to acquire property for the expansion of New York Penn Station as part of an overall plan to build a second rail tunnel between New Jersey and Midtown Manhattan.

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> INDUSTRY TRENDS: Employment rate sets record in Sept. (10/19/2006)
New Jersey reached an all-time high employment level in September.

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> Unemployment rate dips to 5.2% in N.J. (10/18/2006)
TRENTON (AP) -- New Jersey's jobless rate fell slightly to 5.2 percent in September, down from 5.3 percent in August.
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> N.J. economy growing, but at moderate pace (10/18/2006)
The consensus is that South Jersey's economy is growing at a fair pace and not much change is expected in the next six months, according to experts at the Quarterly Business Outlook.

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> FDIC latest to find that NJ economic growth declining (10/05/2006)
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Further evidence that economic growth in New Jersey has declined came Thursday as a federal banking agency found continued deterioration in the state's jobs and home sales.


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> Weekly jobless claims fall by 17,000 (10/05/2006)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The number of newly laid off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits dropped last week to the lowest level in 10 weeks.

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> Bottom line in Jersey: A new minimum wage (10/02/2006)
Kobby Hayford smiled widely from behind the counter of Caps USA in Newark yesterday after learning his hourly wage would jump from $6.15 to $7.15.

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> U.S. economy getting drowsy (09/29/2006)
The economy has slowed even more than previously thought, but the sluggish spell is not expected to turn into recession as Election Day nears.

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> New York City School Agency to Spend $3 Billion a Year for Three Years (09/29/2006)
The New York City School Construction Authority has $3 billion to spend every year for the next three years. In the past, that announcement would have gotten the stereotypical New Yorker response from the design and construction industry: "yeah...good luck with that." But today, the industry is raising an eyebrow.

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> Jobless benefits claims drop last week (09/29/2006)
The number of new people signing up for unemployment benefits dropped last week, an encouraging sign that the labor market is still in decent shape.

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> N.J. minimum wage increases by $1 on Sun. (09/28/2006)
TRENTON -- New Jersey's minimum wage will increase from $6.15 to $7.15 an hour Sunday under a law passed last year.
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> Consumers feel more confident (09/28/2006)
Consumer confidence rebounded from a nine-month low in September, though still hovering near one of the lowest levels of the year, according to reports this week indicating moderate economic growth.

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> State awards $250M in pacts for new Driscoll Bridge work (09/27/2006)
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority awarded two contracts yesterday for the second half of a $250 million reconstruction of the Alfred E. Driscoll Bridge. more...

> Driscoll Bridge to get $100M fix (09/27/2006)
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority board of commissioners awarded a $100 million contract to rehabilitate the oldest sections of the original Alfred E. Driscoll Bridge, which carries the Garden State Parkway over the Raritan River.

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> N.J. loses $16 million in hedge-fund crash (09/22/2006)
New Jersey's foray into high-risk investing suffered a setback this week as the implosion of a Greenwich, Conn., hedge fund swallowed up about $16 million in state funds, including millions that had been in vested just weeks ago.

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> PSEG merger fizzles (09/15/2006)
Exelon Corp. backed out of its proposed purchase of Public Service Enterprise Group on Thursday, citing "insurmountable" differences with state regulators in New Jersey. more...

> Exelon pulls plug on PSEG merger (09/15/2006)
Exelon yesterday walked away from its $17 billion acquisition of Public Service Enterprise Group, balking at concessions sought by New Jersey regulators.

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> More aid is needed for building of schools (09/15/2006)
New Jersey's school construction program needs an infusion of $3.25 billion to address a backlog of projects built up over the past two years during an overhaul of the program, a task force analyzing the school building program told Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday.

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> Building a better route for the commute (09/15/2006)
A 2.5-mile stretch of Route 1 in Edison between Route 287 and the Garden State Parkway keeps frustrated commuters on their brakes.

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> WITH EXELON OUT OF THE PICTURE ... (09/15/2006)
Public Service Enterprise Group isn't going to wind up being part of the biggest guy on the block, at least not just yet.

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> Exelon scraps plan to acquire PSEG (09/14/2006)
NEWARK (AP) -- Exelon Corp. on Thursday scrapped plans to acquire Public Service Enterprise Group, a deal pending for nearly two years that would have created the nation's largest utility company.

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> Corzine: N.J. may replace Amtrak (09/14/2006)
Gov. Jon S. Corzine said the state may consider taking over the 55-mile section of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor that runs between New York and Trenton to reduce delays.