Kyle Glazier

Non-farm payroll employment rose 200,000 in December while the unemployment rate fell to 8.5%, the Labor Department reported Friday.

WASHINGTON — Seasonally adjusted initial jobless claims fell to 372,000 in the week ended Dec. 31, a decrease of 15,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 387,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

Seasonally adjusted initial jobless claims fell to 372,000 in the week ended Dec. 31, a decrease of 15,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 387,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

A bipartisan House duo has introduced legislation that would authorize up to $50 billion of tax-credit bonds to be used over six years to finance transportation infrastructure projects, mirroring a bill pending in the Senate and garnering support from lobbyists even as some question whether such bonds could overcome expected hesitancy from investors.

The Illinois Department of Transportation will receive $186 million to continue construction on a high-speed rail line linking Chicago with St. Louis, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced Wednesday.

WASHINGTON — With the economy “expanding moderately” despite a slowdown of foreign economies, the Federal Open Market Committee’s projections remained unchanged and the FOMC agreed to incorporate information about its projections of appropriate monetary policy into public releases beginning this month, according to minutes of the committee’s Dec. 13 meeting, released Tuesday.

With the economy “expanding moderately” despite a slowdown of foreign economies, the Federal Open Market Committee’s projections remained unchanged and the committee agreed to incorporate information about their projections of appropriate monetary policy into public releases beginning this month, according to minutes of the committee’s Dec. 13 meeting, released Tuesday.

Transportation officials and lobbyists will be watching Capitol Hill early next year, hoping lawmakers pass long-term reauthorization legislation funding aviation and surface programs that would bring much-needed stability to the sectors.

Two lawmakers representing Northeastern states are sponsoring legislation to give the federal government more control over bridge and tunnel tolls, a proposition that has won the backing of commercial truckers and motorist advocacy groups but could also put pressure on some bond issuers.

WASHINGTON — Consumer prices were unchanged in November, after falling 0.1% in October on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Labor Department reported Friday.

Consumer prices were unchanged in November, after falling 0.1% the previous month on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Labor Department reported Friday.

Republicans complained about the skyrocketing cost and lack of administrative transparency surrounding the construction of the California high-speed rail project, while Democrats and regulators steadfastly defended the partially bond-financed project as an antidote to gridlock and a way to create jobs.

WASHINGTON — The producer price index rose 0.3% in November on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The gain followed a 0.3% drop in the index for October.

WASHINGTON — Initial jobless claims fell 19,000 to 366,000 in the week ended Dec. 10, which is the lowest level since May 31, 2008, when claims were 365,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

The producer price index rose 0.3% in November on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

Seasonally adjusted initial jobless claims fell to 366,000 for the week ending Dec. 10, a 19,000 decrease from the previous week's revised level of 385,000 and the lowest level since May 31, 2008, when claims were 365,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

WASHINGTON — U.S. import prices rose 0.7% in November, the first increase since a 0.1% one in July and the largest gain since a 2.6% one in April, the Labor Department reported Wednesday.

U.S. Import prices rose 0.7% in November, the first increase since a 0.1% increase in July and the largest gain since a 2.6% surge in April, the Labor Department reported Wednesday.

WASHINGTON — As the economy showed signs of moderate growth, the Federal Open Market Committee kept the federal funds rate target at zero to 0.25%, and kept forward guidance expecting the rate to stay in that range through mid-2013.

As the economy showed signs of moderate growth, the Federal Open Market Committee kept the fed funds rate target at zero to 0.25%, and kept forward guidance expecting the rate to stay in that range through mid-2013.