Business and Finance
The worst recession since the Great Depression will weigh on the labor market and the broader economy for years to come, economists in a Wall Street Journal forecasting survey said. On average, economists don't expect unemployment to fall below 6% until 2013. Meanwhile, new jobless claims fell last week.</br></br>Shoppers snapped up school supplies and apparel in September, resulting in the first overall rise in retail sales in more than a year.</br></br>The federal government said it had met its goal of beginning trial loan modifications for 500,000 financially troubled homeowners.</br></br>---</br></br>Stocks gained as investors welcomed Alcoa's earnings and retail-sales data. The Dow industrials rose 61.29 points, or 0.6%, to 9786.87.