In some ways, things in Washington, D.C., seem to get harder to understand by the day.

Much of the recent economic data we’ve seen has looked better than expected, but this week’s economic updates may prove to be less inspiring.

The February jobs report contains some better-than-expected news about hiring, adding to other positive signs about the economy.

Despite lackluster growth seen in the final quarter of last year, the Federal Reserve’s economic update provides evidence of continuing expansion.

Two endeavors — forecasting weather and forecasting economic impacts of Washington decision-making — actually should belong in the same place.

In a speech at a conference of the National Association for Business Economics, Federal Reserve Vice Chair Janet Yellen said she believes the Fed should continue with quantitative easing.

This week, the highlight among scheduled economic data is the monthly jobs report, due at 8:30 a.m. Friday.

The impending the package of mandatory spending cuts has been decried this week as “immediate, painful, arbitrary” and using “the meat-cleaver approach.”

With $85 billion in mandatory federal spending cuts due Friday, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke urges officials in Washington to act quickly to avoid them.

A group of private economists has a fairly upbeat view of the outlook, despite the threat of $85 billion in mandatory budget cuts Friday.