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Stories Tagged as

Consumer spending

September's real wages are expected to rise

by Mitchell Hartman
Oct 9, 2023
And that would mean your paycheck's purchasing power would be getting a boost relative to inflation.
Rising real wages means consumers are "making up for the consumption power that they lost when prices were rising faster than wages," says Erica Groshen, former Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
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As student loan payments restart, borrowers feel the pinch. The economy might too.

by Henry Epp
Oct 2, 2023
Obligations resuming after three years could be a rude awakening for some. But by itself, it's not likely to start a recession, experts say.
The return of student loan obligations probably won’t tip us into a recession, but millions of Americans will feel the financial pinch, said Shannon Seery of Wells Fargo.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
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All those pandemic savings? They might already be gone

by Sabri Ben-Achour
Sep 28, 2023
People in the U.S. saved an estimated $2.1 trillion at one point in the pandemic. By some estimates, that money's pretty much gone.
Howard Huang/Getty Images
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Furniture sellers adapt to a nationwide drop in sales

by Stephanie Hughes
Sep 15, 2023
Sales at furniture stores have been sliding amid a cooling housing market and weakening consumer sentiment about making big purchases.
AJ Venable at Urban Links Furniture & Appliances in Baltimore. He said his customers have become more price-sensitive.
Stephanie Hughes/Marketplace
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FedEx and UPS hike prices for 2024, but not as much

by Justin Ho
Sep 11, 2023
Shipping companies need to cover their higher costs, but there's a limit to how much they can pass on to customers.
Carriers like UPS and FedEx know there is a limit to how much they can raise prices, said Jason Miller of Michigan State.
Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images
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Service-sector businesses feel upbeat about "business conditions"

by Justin Ho
Sep 8, 2023
A survey from the Institute for Supply Management found that a majority of service-sector businesses feel positive about business conditions and the overall economy.
Service sector businesses, which include restaurants, hair salons, marketing agencies and more, are overall feeling positive about the economy, thanks to strong customer demand.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
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Consumers are finding ways to justify spending, even if it busts their budget

by Kai Ryssdal and Sofia Terenzio
Sep 5, 2023
The rebound from pandemic deprivation continues, says Adriana Samper of Arizona State, and the reasoning can get pretty creative.
Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images
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Spending on games and hobbies is up as consumers prepare to hunker down for fall

by Stephanie Hughes
Aug 31, 2023
During the pandemic, people spent money on stuff. Then, they spent money on experiences. Now, it seems they're spending money on things that help them connect.
Ethan Childs, left, and Imani White play Magic the Gathering at Canton Games in Baltimore. Games are part of how they socialize.
Stephanie Hughes/Marketplace
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Despite rising interest rates, consumers increased their spending in July

by Kimberly Adams
Aug 31, 2023
But what they're spending their money on is shifting.
Despite climbing interest rates, consumers spent .9% more on goods in July than in June.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
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Best Buy says electronics demand could pick up again

by Justin Ho
Aug 31, 2023
Demand for consumer electronics has fallen since the early days of the pandemic. But Best Buy says electronics demand could stabilize in the near future, or even grow.
The CEO of Best Buy said that this year could be a low point for electronics demand. And that next year, demand could slowly start to pick up.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
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