Oct 16 U.S. retail sales dip 0.3 percent in September By Martin Crutsinger, Associated Press Retail sales dropped in September by the largest amount in seven months, possibly signaling that rising trade tensions and turbulent markets are having an impact on consumer spending. Continue reading
Sep 18 How the Federal Reserve rate cut could affect your finances By Gretchen Frazee The Fed’s reduction of the federal funds rate is only one of many factors that affect the U.S. economy, but it can still trigger shifts that trickle down into Americans’ finances. Continue reading
Jun 07 U.S. consumer borrowing rose $17.5 billion in April By Martin Crutsinger, Associated Press Consumer credit is a key indicator of the willingness of households to increase borrowing to support consumer spending, which accounts for 70 percent of economic activity. Continue reading
Apr 29 U.S. consumer spending spikes 0.9 percent in March By Martin Crutsinger, Associated Press The March gain was the biggest monthly increase since August 2009, the Commerce Department reported. Continue reading
Dec 10 Column: How to avoid overspending this holiday season By Tanja Hester When you focus on what you value most about the holidays, it’s far easier to moderate your spending, writes Tanja Hester who subscribes to a frugal lifestyle. Continue reading
Oct 26 U.S. economy grows 3.5 percent, boosted by consumer spending By Martin Crutsinger, Associated Press The strongest burst of consumer spending in nearly four years helped offset a sharp drag from trade. Continue reading
Aug 30 U.S. consumer spending up a solid 0.4 percent in July By Martin Crutsinger, Associated Press U.S. consumer spending rose a solid 0.4 percent in July, the sixth straight month of healthy gains. Continue reading
Jan 29 Watch 5:36 News Wrap: U.S. economy slowed at end of 2015 By PBS News Hour Friday on the NewsHour, new data from the government shows that American consumers spent less, businesses invested less and companies exported less at the end of last year. Overall, growth was about the same as in 2014. Also, the State… Continue watching
Nov 27 Why it's OK to splurge on Black Friday, according to a behavioral economist By Kristen Doerer Dan Ariely says go ahead, buy that new ski jacket on Black Friday. As a behavioral economist at Duke University, he's studied how people can successfully indulge one day, and then resume normal spending practices for the rest of the… Continue reading
Jan 30 Economy slowed in final quarter of 2014 By Simone Pathe The U.S. economy grew 2.6 percent in the last three months of 2014, more slowly than in the previous two quarters of the year. Continue reading