The Breakdown: Economy

President Obama is breaking up his $447 American Jobs Act into pieces to help push it through Congress. First up is a $35 billion package to go to states.

The Senate has rejected President Obama's jobs bill, but a Plan B is already taking shape.

For many, today's jobs news is good -- but not good enough. We ask National Economic Council director Gene Sperling what still needs to be done.

Despite heavy pushing this week, it looks unlikely that President Obama's jobs package will be passed as-is. And if it isn't passed, even those who do have jobs will feel it.

Mass layoffs are still in force, more than two years after the recession started. The newly unemployed face stiff competition amongst their peers, but also find strength in their numbers.

The White House wants to extend unemployment insurance benefits, but critics say that will give the jobless an incentive to stay jobless.

Many experts attributed a good day on Wall Street yesterday to an upcoming speech by Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke. But others say big market swings are harder to explain.

Private employers are creating jobs every month. But it's not nearly enough to whittle away at the unemployment rate, which remains above 9 percent

A new study shows the social costs of impoverished children are growing, with economic consequences like high unemployment extending far into the future