Stocks edge higher as investors watch oil retreat
NEW YORK – Wall Street rose modestly Thursday as investors reacted to a pullback in oil prices and sifted through sales figures from retailers that were generally not as gloomy as anticipated.

Gas prices jump nearly 3 cents to record, while oil pauses
NEW YORK – Gas prices jumped nearly 3 cents overnight to a new national record of nearly $3.65 a gallon Thursday, while oil prices paused from their own climb to record highs and succumbed to mild profit-taking.

Jobless claims show labor not deteriorating rapidly
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The number of U.S. workers filing claims for initial jobless benefits fell more than expected last week, according to a report on Thursday that suggested the labor market, while soft, was not deteriorating rapidly.

Breakfast gets pricey
Nationally, commodity prices have spiked over the past year. According to U.S. Department of Agriculture figures, overall food prices in March were 4.5 percent higher than March 2007. Prices for eggs and milk rose even higher. Eggs cost almost 30 percent more this March than last year and milk was up more than 13 percent.

Consumers give stores some relief but still spend cautiously
NEW YORK – Consumers gave some of the nation’s retailers a little relief in April after months of dismal sales, gravitating toward less expensive discounters and wholesale clubs but generally still shying away from stores selling clothes and other non-necessities.

Housing aid bills face vetoes by President Bush
WASHINGTON – Strapped homeowners could refinance into government-backed mortgages and states would get money to deal with foreclosed property under Democrats’ housing aid plan.