Recent figures from the N.C. Department of Commerce in August show the local unemployment rate continues to lag behind North Carolina’s rate of 4.6 percent.

The Twin Counties still rank among the top 15 counties with the highest unemployment rates. Edgecombe County has the second highest…

WASHINGTON — U.S. consumer confidence in September rose to the highest level in nine years, a hopeful sign that economic growth will accelerate in coming months.

The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index rose to 104.1, up from 101.8 in August. It was the strongest…

WASHINGTON — Sales of new homes retreated in August, one month after surging to the highest level in nearly nine years. Activity fell in all regions of the country except the West.

New home sales dropped 7.6 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 609,000 units, the…

Matt Patterson has joined the staff of Bunch & Co., a Rocky Mount accounting firm.

Patterson serves as a staff accountant, practicing in individual and business taxation, a release says. He also practices as an enrolled agent before the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

Patterson earned a…

Darryl Nowell, a driver for Eagle Transport Corp. in its Richmond Va., terminal, was named the 2016 Driver of the Year Grand Champion by the National Tank Truck Carriers at a special ceremony in May in San Diego.

Nowell, a 31-year trucking industry veteran, has been with Rocky…

Jolley Asset Management has named two securities industry veterans to its staff.

Bill Collier was named a principal and the senior portfolio manager for the Rocky Mount firm, and Jan P. Robillard was appointed vice president of client services, a release says.

Collier has 33 years experience in the…

Many baby boomers are looking to take early retirement. Because of this, many have questions and concerns about their individual retirement accounts. Although I can’t possibly answer all those questions in this column, I can cover three important ones to keep in mind when it comes to your IRA.…

Regardless of what level of management you’re on — supervisor, executive or even owner — and no matter how good your intentions might be, you’re bound to make mistakes. No boss is perfect, and missteps are natural. But some of these mistakes might be holding your…

Over a two-decade span ranging from ages 50 to 70 1/2, investors face multiple milestone decisions that likely will affect their retirement savings and portfolio. As you navigate through each decision, you’ll need to be aware of how rules governing Social Security, Medicare and your…