AFP - Amid deep election-year worries about high unemployment, the US Senate voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to send President Barack Obama a 17.6-billion-dollar package aimed at creating jobs.

Reuters - U.S. producer prices in February posted their biggest fall in seven months as energy costs tumbled, validating the Federal Reserve's decision to hold interest rates very low on evidence of tame inflation.

AP - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke urged Congress Wednesday to let the Fed keep all of its banking oversight, arguing that information gleaned from that process helps the central bank guide the economy.

AFP - The United States Wednesday welcomed a decision by Paris Club creditors to cancel Afghanistan's debt owed to members as "a crucial step" toward economic sustainability.

Reuters - Top U.S. central bankers on Wednesday fought back against a plan to strip the Fed of its oversight of smaller banks, saying the knowledge it gains from that role is vital to monetary policy.

AFP - Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke called for the central bank to keep broad regulatory powers Wednesday, amid a fierce debate about how to police Wall Street.

AP - Prices at the wholesale level plunged in February by the largest amount in seven months as a big drop in energy prices offset higher food costs.

AP - If the economy cooperates and auto sales recover a bit, General Motors Co. has a reasonable chance of turning a full-year profit in 2010, its new chief financial officer said Wednesday.

AFP - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her Pakistani counterpart will lead talks here next week aimed at boosting the economy and security of Pakistan, a key ally in the fight against extremism.

AFP - The United States sees vast potential to expand trade with Indonesia but Jakarta needs to undertake economic reforms, a top official said Wednesday ahead of President Barack Obama's visit.

AFP - The United States and India launched a new blitz to boost economic, trade and financial cooperation on Wednesday, the latest sign of deepening ties between the two economic giants.