WASHINGTON, Sept 5 — President Barack Obama, previewing a big push on the US economy next week, on Saturday defended policies that he said “have stopped the bleeding” and put the middle class on the road to recovery. Obama (picture), struggling to bring down the 9.6 per cent jobless rate, is to spend next week talking up proposals on improving the ...

Higher-than-forecast U.S. private job gains may reduce pressure on Federal Reserve policy makers to add monetary stimulus this month without closing the door to a move later this year, economists said. The report reduces the odds of a relapse into a recession while also reinforcing the view of Fed policy makers that the economy is recovering more slowly than they would like. The president ...

Civil Defence Minister John Carter has said heavy rain may cause people near the Waimakariri River to be evacuated.

By DENISE DICK denise_dick@vindy.com youngstowN Diligence and teamwork contributed to

President Barack Obama promised to roll out “new ideas” to boost growth and spur hiring this week as he embarks on economy-focused trips to the Midwest with less than two months until congressional elections.