Small businesses say relentless pressures from tariffs and higher energy prices have sapped their resilience and finances

By Lucia Mutikani WASHINGTON, June 17 (Reuters) - U.S. retail sales increased more than expected in May, with households boosting purchases of motor vehicles even as they paid more for gasoline, but a slowdown is likely as the cushion from larger tax refunds against higher prices diminishes.

U.S. employers added 172,000 jobs in May, and data from previous months was revised upward, the Labor Department said June 5, additional confirmation of an economy analysts say is on surprisingly firm footing.

The US labor market appears to have found its footing: The economy added 172,000 jobs in May, shattering expectations, new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed Friday.

The U.S. housing market is expected to deteriorate further in 2026, with no rebound in sight. Rising competition from new home builders, aggressive incentives, and historically high price-to-income ratios are pressuring existing home sellers.

Why has the American economy continued to outperform so many of its peers, despite facing the same global shocks?

US economic growth is picking up again after a slowdown towards the end of 2025. According to price data released on May 28, US GDP grew by 1.6% year-on-year in the first quarter

The AI boom propped up U.S. economic growth in the first quarter, but inflation due to the Iran war is casting a cloud.

South Carolina ranks 18th among nation’s economies, according to new report, as rising inflation adds fresh strain on U.S. households and businesses.

A recent WalletHub study ranked all US states and Washington, DC, based on economic activity, economic health, and innovation potential.

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