Amid soaring gasoline prices, the Obama administration unveils new fuel-efficiency labels to appear on 2013 vehicle models.

Gas prices that hover near $4 a gallon may have Americans questioning their love affair with their cars. But in the rest of the world, millions of upwardly mobile people are just beginning to feel four-wheeled “first love.”

Meanwhile, crosscurrents in the housing market include some positive forces. Foreclosure activity is declining in many regions, and an improving job market should boost demand for houses over time. Also, mortgage rates remain low.

As gas prices across the United States hover near $4 a gallon, a new survey finds a majority of Americans support requiring automakers to meet a 60-mile-per-gallon standard by 2025.

Drivers may finally get a break at the pump. Perhaps even by this weekend, the price of regular grade gasoline could be as much as 10 cents a gallon lower and by Memorial Day another 20 cents lower.

As U.S. and Chinese economic officials meet this week, old concerns still linger: Are China’s trade policies stealing jobs from American workers? Should the nation take a tougher, more retaliatory line in its own trade policies?

The goal of curbing federal deficits returned to the political forefront last week, with Vice President Joe Biden hosting a meeting with lawmakers from both parties.

Gas prices have gotten so high that six states have reached a new record above 2008 levels. Two other Great Lakes states — Minnesota and Wisconsin — are within an eyelash of their 2008 records.

In a recent poll, respondents blame U.S. oil companies for record prices at the pump, but surveys also show people are more inclined to blame President Obama and the Democrats than Republicans for high gas prices.

The U.S. economy lost some steam in this year’s first quarter, raising the question: Is the recovery still so fragile that an emphasis on reducing federal spending could hurt rather than help?

News that certain mobile phone manufacturers have embedded technology in their devices that tracks owners’ movements has raised alarms among privacy rights advocates even though it has been somewhat of an open secret since last year.

Employment specialists are cheered by the McDonald’s jobs because a significant portion of the hiring is likely to involve teenagers or people without a college degree. The teen unemployment rate is currently 24.5 percent.

With about six weeks to go until the summer driving season begins, the price of a gallon of gasoline is just 18 cents away from the record price of $4.11, which was set in the summer of 2008.

For those aiming to seize financial opportunities, an art fund provides one avenue of investment. Investors own shares of a fund but not the underlying art. Proponents say this offers distinct advantages.

If less energy-hungry chips are developed, cellphones could fully replace laptop computers. Graphene and nanotubes are just two of the technologies that could reduce the power needs of computers.

Consumers, beware. Con artists have an assortment of tricks up their sleeves to get debit card numbers, personal IDs and security codes, including these five common techniques.

More Americans became entrepreneurs in the past two years than at any other time in the past 15 years. But before you consider leaving your day job, check out these Top 5 myths about starting a business.