economic indicator

Consumer spending for the Easter holiday, including apparel, decorations, gifts, candy, food and flowers, is expected to reach $16.4 billion this year, a trade group said Monday.

Washington's longtime budget woes require both tax reform and reductions in non-discretionary spending

Is the American economy finally out of the woods, asks Jules Witcover.

States that want to become magnets for new businesses, or strengthen their position as such, must focus on eliminating harmful taxes that stifle economic growth such as income taxes and estate taxes. Maryland — with a 5.75 percent state income tax, large local income tax add-ons, a state estate tax and an incoming Republican governor — has an unprecedented opportunity to join the ranks of pro-growth states by passing a law to cut taxes equal to increased revenues from passage of a

Glendening helped Ehrlich inherit a more stable budget; O'Malley needs to do the same for Hogan.

Failure to consider environmental costs in economic choices spells trouble for the planet and the future of humanity

Nearly 1 million Marylanders are expected to travel 50 miles or more for the Thanksgiving holiday, the largest number since 2007, according to driver advocacy organization AAA Mid-Atlantic.

The National Retail Federation has released its Holiday Consumer Spending Survey, giving us an idea of what the average American plans to spend to celebrate the season.

Democrats run the economy better

Maryland's economy far better than Republican gubernatorial candidate would have voters and the media believe

Holiday shopping is expected to be up over last season, with one retail group calling for a 4 percent increase in November/December sales, the strongest gain in three years.

Federal consumer spending data released this week by the Bureau of Labor Statistics show Baltimore-area residents spent an average of $154 annually on books, newspapers, magazines and other pleasure reading — about 45 percent more than the $106 national average. That's just a tiny fraction of area expenditures, but it's consistent with the profile of the wealthy, middle-aged average consumer revealed in the BLS data. And it's one sign of the ways the Baltimore region is different.

Harford County Council members said they are backing off plans to raise salaries for future council members and will instead recommend that the county executive give other county employees a raise.

Harford County Councilman Jim McMahan, who is running for re-election, says he supports bills to raise the salaries of the next county executive and county council, giving the measures a minimum of three prospective favorable votes among the seven member council.

Maryland trailed the national economy in three of four quarters last year, according to gross domestic product figures released Wednesday by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

The Harford County Council is planning to introduce legislation Tuesday night to raise the salaries of the next county council and county executive.

Maryland might be a relatively pricey place to live, but the average resident can afford it — and then some. That's what a first-ever breakdown of consumer spending by state suggests.

Washington should support economic growth and reduce student loan debt

Maryland employers added 7,700 jobs in June, making up the lost ground from the rough month before, the federal government said Friday.

Effort to stifle competition may be one reason Maryland's GDP has flat-lined

Maryland's economy has grown almost without fail in the last quarter century, ticking up year after year. But 2013 was not among them.

Latest report shows state's lackluster GDP is not the fault of high taxes or regulations but reduced federal government spending

Maryland's economy didn't grow last year, according to gross domestic product estimates released Wednesday.

President Barack Obama must take stronger steps to confront Vladimir Putin.

The Maryland Senate passed legislation to increase the salary of the Harford County State's Attorney.

President Barack Obama unveiled a $3.9 trillion federal budget on Tuesday that calls for spending billions more on infrastructure, raising taxes on the wealthy and closing an income inequality gap the president has made a top target of his second term.

Cutting Social Security benefits won't revive the GOP

The economy is likely to continue dragging in a slow recovery this year, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond told a state bankers group Friday.

After a year of record gains on Wall Street, it's time U.S. economic policies focused more on job growth and less on investor profits

Consumer confidence is on the rebound. The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index increased to 78.1 in December from 72.0 in November, the Conference Board said Tuesday.

A citizens' commission created to review the compensation levels of the county executive and council is close to making its final recommendations.

The next big battle for federal workers might not be over another government shutdown, but how to measure inflation.

Catonsville Shops at Mellor have undergone a lot of changes over the summer with more to come

Forecasts of sunny skies are combining with falling gas prices and an apparent "pent-up demand" for a getaway to put Maryland on a course for its busiest Labor Day weekend for travel since the end of the recession.

Endlessly tinkering with financial reform won't address China's biggest challenge: burgeoning consumer demand

The latest "Measure of America" finds Baltimore and Maryland in a good place, as far as health, wealth and education. The study, by the Social Science Research Council, takes stock of well-being, and how it varies geographically and racially, every couple of years.