WASHINGTON — China is lifting a five-year ban on U.S. poultry, a goodwill gesture at a time when the world’s two biggest economies are trying to finalize a tentative trade deal.

WASHINGTON — Surging gasoline prices caused U.S. consumer prices to rise last month at the fastest pace since March.

WASHINGTON — U.S. manufacturing output dropped for the third straight month in October as trade tensions and a slowing global economy took a toll on American factories.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is scheduled to sign a limited trade agreement Oct. 7 with Japan, a deal that would win back benefits American farmers lost when Trump pulled out of a broader Asia-Pacific pact his first week in office.

Productivity rose at a healthy pace in the second quarter but dropped at American factories, another sign of trouble for manufacturers.

WASHINGTON — The United States is delaying tariffs on Chinese-made cellphones, laptop computers and other items and removing other Chinese imports from its target list altogether.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. trade deficit rose to a five-month high in May as the politically sensitive imbalances with China and Mexico widened. The Commerce Department said July 3 that the gap between the goods and services the U.S. sells and what it buys from foreign countries rose 8.4% to $55.5 billion in May.

WASHINGTON — U.S. home sales rose in October, breaking a six-month losing streak. But sales remain down from a year ago, hurt by rising interest rates.

WASHINGTON — American manufacturers grew at a slower pace in October as factories contended with supply disruptions caused by disputes with China, Europe and other trading partners.

WASHINGTON — U.S. consumer confidence rose again this month, hitting a new 18-year high. The Conference Board said Oct. 30 that its consumer confidence index climbed to 137.9 in October from 135.3 in September. Both readings are the highest since September 2000.