State unemployment rate drops below 7 percent for first time since 2008 By Brad Allen | Thursday, July 15, 2010 Minnesotas unemployment rate has fallen to 6.8 percent, the first time since December 2008 that the jobless rate has been below 7 percent, even as Minnesota employers cut 3,700 jobs in June.

Retailers posted mixed June sales on Thursday as a boost from hot weatherinduced buying and a shift in the timing of Memorial Day sales was offset by a string of disappointing economic reports that have hurt consumer confidence and led some to pull back on spending.

Retailers posted mixed June sales on Thursday as a boost from hot weatherinduced buying and a shift in the timing of Memorial Day sales was offset by a string of disappointing economic reports that have hurt consumer confidence and led some to pull back on spending.

The three Hawaii offices of Wells Fargo Financial are among 638 nationwide that will close in the next 60 days as Iowa-based parent company, Wells Fargo & Co., restructures its consumer finance operations.

Another round of weak economic data Thursday fueled worries that the economic recovery may be faltering, though most analysts still rule out a return to recession.

Employers announced plans to cut 39,358 jobs from their payrolls during June, a slight (1.4 percent) increase from the previous month’s 38,810 announced layoffs. This marks the third consecutive month in which announced job cuts totaled less than 40,000, according to the latest job-cuts report released Thursday by global outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc

The number of planned layoffs at U.S. firms rose slightly in June, but the level was still close to a four-year low, suggesting employers are not fearful of a double-dip recession, a report on Thursday showed.

NEW YORK, July 1 (Reuters) - The number of planned layoffs at U.S.

Quarter till 9 most weekday mornings, Edgar Romano Jr.

Stocks were mixed Thursday, with the Nasdaq managing gains and the Dow struggling in the aftermath of the previous session’s rally and the morning’s mixed economic news.