WASHINGTON — Surging gasoline prices caused U.S. consumer prices to rise last month at the fastest pace since March.

WASHINGTON — U.S. manufacturing output dropped for the third straight month in October as trade tensions and a slowing global economy took a toll on American factories.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is scheduled to sign a limited trade agreement Oct. 7 with Japan, a deal that would win back benefits American farmers lost when Trump pulled out of a broader Asia-Pacific pact his first week in office.

Productivity rose at a healthy pace in the second quarter but dropped at American factories, another sign of trouble for manufacturers.

WASHINGTON — The United States is delaying tariffs on Chinese-made cellphones, laptop computers and other items and removing other Chinese imports from its target list altogether.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. trade deficit rose to a five-month high in May as the politically sensitive imbalances with China and Mexico widened. The Commerce Department said July 3 that the gap between the goods and services the U.S. sells and what it buys from foreign countries rose 8.4% to $55.5 billion in May.

WASHINGTON — U.S. home sales rose in October, breaking a six-month losing streak. But sales remain down from a year ago, hurt by rising interest rates.

WASHINGTON — American manufacturers grew at a slower pace in October as factories contended with supply disruptions caused by disputes with China, Europe and other trading partners.

WASHINGTON — U.S. consumer confidence rose again this month, hitting a new 18-year high. The Conference Board said Oct. 30 that its consumer confidence index climbed to 137.9 in October from 135.3 in September. Both readings are the highest since September 2000.

WASHINGTON — Record imports drove the U.S. trade deficit up for the third straight month in August.