USA payroll employment continued to decline in July, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 9.4 percent. Job losses continued in almost all of the major industry sectors.

The American average existing-home price was $170,300 in January, down 14.8 percent from a year earlier. A high prevalence of distressed home sales, and of those in lower price ranges has skewed the average price to be markedly lower than under normal market conditions.

The American Government is considering a pilot programme that would allow temporary visa holders with special medical skills to enlist in the army and have the opportunity to apply for citizenship immediately.

Between 2006 and 2007, 38.7 million people moved in the United States: 25.2 million stayed in the same county, 7.4 million moved to a different county within the same state, 4.9 million moved to a different state and 1.2 million moved to the U.S. from abroad.
Housing-related issues – such as the desire to own a home or to live in a better neighbourhood – were the most common reasons given for moving (42 percent), followed by …