“Jobless Claims Rise, Labor Market Healing Very Slowly”

The U.S. economy faces a number of threats In the coming months, including the looming possibility the government will raise taxes and cut spending. That is already hurting business sentiment.

Europe’s festering debt crisis also menaces the global economy. Business surveys released on Thursday painted a global picture of economic malaise from Beijing to Berlin.

Minutes from the Fed’s July 31-August 1 policy review, released on Wednesday, suggested the central bank is likely to deliver another round of monetary stimulus “fairly soon” unless the economy improves considerably.

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