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Spike in demand for building materials helped drive overall retail sales in May

Jun 14, 2018
New numbers out Thursday show that Americans spent a lot of their paychecks on retail last month. U.S. retail sales were strong in May, rising about eight-tenths of a percent from a month earlier.  That may sound small, but it’s the biggest one-month jump since last November. Among the merchants that got a lot of […]

Why we're in the mood to spend a little more

May 31, 2016
Consumers are confident about the economy. For now.
Personal spending is up 1 percent for April.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Consumer economy holding up...so far

Feb 12, 2016
Consumer spending and sentiment have not suffered much from recent market turmoil.

Consumer spending: It's not just for consumers

Feb 10, 2016
It makes up almost 70 percent of GDP, but it's not all shopping trips to the mall.
Health care accounts for a large part of consumer spending.
Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Gas is below $2 a gallon, so where's the savings going?

Dec 21, 2015
Drivers are saving at the pump, but they're not spending more elsewhere.

Consumer sentiment falls sharply in September

Sep 11, 2015
The University of Michigan report is the first to reflect recent market volatility.

Oil industry cutbacks are a drag on U.S. economy

Jul 16, 2015
Companies are spending less on production and laying off thousands of workers.

For public good, not for profit.

From "promposal" to dress, everything must be unique

Apr 17, 2015
Stores track who's wearing what so that there are no repeats come prom night.

Mixed signals: Decoding the economy

Apr 14, 2015
Decoding the economy's mixed signals
First quarter earnings are on the upswing for big banks. 
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

With gas prices down, we're buying more SUVs

Nov 4, 2014
Car buyers are impulsive, but not necessarily 'dumb.'