Good News, February | featured news

The 0.3 percent increase, the biggest since November, provided hope that the recovery was gaining momentum.

U.S. stocks rose broadly, with investors encouraged by a government report that job losses were less than expected in February.

Economists had expected the snowstorms to have a bigger impact, but job losses were surprisingly mild in February as employers cut 36,000 jobs.

General Motors said Tuesday that United States sales rose 11.5 percent in February over the period a year ago, including a 32.2 percent gain for the four brands it is keeping: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC.