German exports and imports jumped more than expected in February, the Federal Statistics Office said on Monday, as the effects of the war in Ukraine have yet to be reflected in foreign trade figures. Seasonally adjusted exports rose 6.4 percent on the month, compared to a rise of 1.5 percent predicted by economists. Imports increased…

Commentary The  February jobs report printed at 678,000 new jobs, well above the consensus estimate of 400,000. That’s up from January’s 481,000 jobs. (Note that the month-to-month data for January was affected by the annual benchmarking data that was discussed in our last jobs report and that is detailed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics…

WASHINGTON—A measure of U.S. services industry activity dropped to a one-year low in February and employment contracted, suggesting that a slowdown in economic growth at the end of 2021 persisted beyond the disruption from the winter wave of COVID-19 cases. The Institute for Supply Management said on Thursday its non-manufacturing activity index fell to 56.5…

TOKYO—Japan’s manufacturing activity expanded at the slowest pace in five months in February as output contracted, underscoring the prolonged impact that global supply chain disruptions are having on the world’s third-largest economy. Activity in the services sector shrank at the fastest rate since May 2020 as demand weakened after the country saw coronavirus infections spike…

The next time you hear a loud “crack” outside on a moonless winter night, don’t assume it’s someone firing a weapon. It could just be an exploding tree. In Collin County, Texas, locals recently heard a number of trees cracking in the icy weather. “We listened to them all night. Sounds like gunshots going off,”…

Another February. Another Valentine’s Day. Yes, there are other noteworthy events, such as the beginning of the Lunar New Year, whether the groundhog sees his shadow, or a celebration of past presidents. But for many of us, February is the month of romance. Marketers have convinced us that receiving heart-shaped boxes of assorted chocolates, bouquets…

U.S. shares inched up at the open on Tuesday, extending gains from the past two sessions, as focus turned to data on manufacturing and job openings, while Exxon Mobil and United Parcel Service gained on strong results. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 19.6 points, or 0.06 percent, at the open to 35151.47. The S&P…

AUSTIN, Texas—State officials on Tuesday added 59 deaths to the toll wrought by the Feb. 14 cold wave and the ensuing collapse of the Texas electric power grid. The deaths newly tallied by the Texas Department of State Health Services boost the toll from 151 to 210 deaths, most from exposure to the sometimes-subzero temperatures….

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg insists Australia is still on track to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine from February, as new figures suggest people are more than happy to get their jab. The Therapeutic Goods Administration is due to approve the Pfizer vaccine, and others Australia has signed up to, in the coming weeks. “We are not…