Wall Street Journal (02/17/12) Alan Zibel; Jeff Bater
The number of employees filing new applications for unemployment benefits declined last week to the lowest level since 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Other reports also signaled positive news for the economy. Home building ticked up in January, and wholesale prices rose just 0.1%, although core inflation rose 0.4%. The good reports may further foster the debate among U.S. Federal Reserve policy makers about whether to further stimulate an economy that is growing just slightly more than two years after the end of the recession.