JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — Chairman Ben Bernanke is proposing no new steps by the Federal Reserve to boost the economy while hinting that Congress may need to act to stimulate hiring and growth. Bernanke said Friday that while record-low interest rates will promote growth over time, the weak economy requires further help in the short [...]

DETROIT – Each month, a dozen executives of General Motors Co gather on the 39th floor of their Detroit headquarters to survey the auto industry, the U.S. economy and how they will meet demand from customers. Recently, the view has not been impressive. With the economy still struggling to regain momentum after the financial crisis [...]

These days, many conservatives argue that slashing the nation’s debt should be lawmakers’ top priority as they try to revive the U.S. economy. Adding too much debt has eroded consumer confidence, they say, and paying it down would help jump-start growth. But economists say the relationship between government debt and the weak economy isn’t so [...]