LOS ANGELES, Kalifornia - July 11, 2011 - More stores across the U.S. that offer deeply discounted products are seeing their sales decline after years of growth amid Amerika’s Second Great Depression, and one analyst said on Monday it’s another sign of an even deeper downturn.

While demand at stores like the 99-Cent Store or Dollar Tree is still relatively high, the biggest chains in the nation have fallen short of Wall Street’s expectations for several months, a trend that may prove even more ominous for the economy at large.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - July 10, 2011 - European Council President Herman Van Rompuy has called an emergency meeting of top officials dealing with the euro zone debt crisis for Monday morning, reflecting concern that the crisis could spread to Italy, the region's third largest economy.

European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet will attend the meeting along with Jean-Claude Juncker, chairman of the region's finance ministers, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Olli Rehn, the economic and monetary affairs commissioner, three official sources told Reuters.

NEW YORK (PNN) - July 10, 2011 - As the jobless rate inches up while the Second Great Depression continues, investors looking for a few good stocks may want to follow the money - or rather the TV, beloved Fender guitar, baubles from grandma, and wedding ring.

Profits at pawnshop operator Ezcorp, Inc. have jumped by an average 46% annually for five years. The stock has doubled from a year ago, to about $38, and the Wall Street pros that analyze the company think it will go higher yet. All seven of them are telling investors to buy the Austin, Texas, company.

WASHINGTON - July 8, 2011 - Hiring slowed to a near-standstill last month, raising doubts that the economy will rebound in the second half of the year after a spring slump.

The economy generated only 18,000 net jobs in June, the fewest in nine months. The unemployment rate rose to 9.2%, the highest rate of the year, the Labor Department said Friday.

ROME, Italy - July 7, 2011 - World food prices rose by 1% in June, the UN's food agency said on Thursday.

"A strong rise in international sugar prices" was behind much of the increase, the Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization said in a statement.

NEW YORK - July 6, 2011 - Gold prices climbed for a third day Wednesday, rising to a two-week high after a rate hike in China put inflation concerns back in the spotlight and as worries over euro zone debt stoked safe-haven buying.

After rising in tandem with oil and grains on Tuesday, gold broke away from a lackluster commodities complex and shrugged off a stronger dollar as risk-aversion pushed prices toward the top of the market’s two-month trading range.

ALTO, Texas - July 5, 2011 - Crime is on the rise in one small Texas city because the police department has been padlocked and the officers sent home.

The city of Alto laid off its entire police force about two weeks ago because the city council completely cut the department's budget.