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• Consumer Sentiment Gains on Fiscal Deal Optimism

  

  U.S. consumer sentiment unexpectedly improved in January as Americans felt Washington's deal to avert the "fiscal cliff" at the beginning of the year boded well for the economy, a new survey showed.

• US Economy Adds 157,000 Jobs; Rate Up to 7.9%

  

  Payrolls rose 157,000 while the unemployment rate edged higher to 7.9 percent, news unlikely to alter the Fed's monetary policy.

• The Five Highest Tax States for the Highest Earners

  

  Virtually every state's tax system unfairly takes from those who make the least, says a new report. But which states take the most from their richest residents?

• Morici: Unemployment Rises, More Quit Looking for Work

  

  It's bad, but as this economist explains, it would have been a lot worse if thousands of Americans had not just given up.

• Americans Will Pay to Shore Up Social Security: Poll

  

  A new study found that Americans support increases in payroll taxes and taxing higher incomes for Social Security, but want minimum benefits and cost-of-living adjustments to be increased too.

• Fed Strategy to Trigger 'Collateral Financial Damage': Lavorgnia

  

  Deutsche Bank's Joe Lavorgnia anticipates broad "collateral financial damage" once interest rates eventually edge higher. And Art Hogan of Lazard Capital Markets sees the Fed trimming back on quantitative easing in 2013. Both appeared on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" on Friday.

• China's Shaky Start to the Year of the Snake

  

  The pullback in activity in China's key manufacturing sector highlights the fragility of the recovery in the world's second largest economy, experts told CNBC, following the release of the official manufacturing PMI.

• Jobless Claims Go Higher; Income, Spending Both Up

  

  The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid rose sharply last week but remained at a level consistent with moderate hiring, while income surged much higher than expected and spending inched higher as well.

• How Rising Taxes Drove Incomes Higher in December

  

  The end of the Bush era tax cut on dividends pushed companies to send shareholders more cash before the New Year.

• US Midwest Business Index Picks Up From 3-Year Low

  

  The pace of business activity in the U.S. Midwest picked up from a more than three-year low the month before as new orders jumped, a report showed on Thursday.

• Farr: Are We Headed for Another Recession?

  

  Latest GDP figures should neither be cause for alarm nor cause for celebration says this pro.

• Why This Is 'Best-Looking' GDP Drop You'll Ever See

  

  Negative economic growth in the fourth quarter provided a scary headline to start Wednesday's trading but probably little else in market impact.

• GDP Shows Surprise Drop for US in Fourth Quarter

  

  The U.S. economy posted a stunning drop of 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter, defying expectations for slow growth and possibly providing incentive for more Federal Reserve stimulus.

• Cramer: GDP Decline Is a 'One-Off Number'

  

  After the economy posted an unexpected drop in fourth quarter GDP, CNBC's Jim Cramer called it a "shocker" but also a "one-off number."

• 'Rich Tax' Puts California on Risky Path: Expert

  

  Relying on the wealthiest taxpayers can turn into budget turmoil when the market slides, according to analysts.

• Private Sector Adds More Jobs; Services Lead Way

  

  The private sector created 192,000 new jobs in January, better than expectations and reflective of the slowly improving trend in the labor market.

• New Hawks and Doves at Fed Likely Won't Alter Policy

  

  The cast of voting members on the Fed's policy committee is changing, but Ben Bernanke will likely retain a solid majority for his drive to keep interest rates low well into the future despite critics who worry about the risks.

• US Mortgage Applications Fall as Refi Demand Drops

  

  Applications for U.S. home mortgages tumbled last week after three consecutive weeks of gains, with refinance demand slumping as interest rates rose, an industry group said on Wednesday.

• Consumer Confidence Tumbles on Financial Fears

  

  U.S. consumer confidence dropped to its lowest level in more than a year as Americans were more pessimistic about the economic outlook and their financial prospects, according to a private sector report released on Tuesday.

• GDP Contracts, Jobs Outlook Sours: Morici

  

  This academic says weak conditions abroad and flagging U.S. competitiveness caused exports to contract and businesses anticipating a further slowdown slashed inventories.