MIDDAY UPDATE: GDP up 2.6 percent, holiday shopping

U.S. Gross Domestic Product grew 2.6 percent in the third quarter. Stacey Vanek Smith spoke to Richard DeKaser, who explained while this is a good number, the GDP needs to be much higher to tackle jobless numbers.

With only two days til Christmas, retailers and shoppers alike are scrambling to make a deal. But will last-minute shoppers find the deals they’re used to days before Christmas? LA Times columnist David Lazarus examines retail numbers. Marketplace reporter Adriene Hill ventures out on a shopping expedition to find out which holiday gifts are as green as they say to be. Don’t miss the slideshow.

And finally, AARP released a report today that gauges how baby boomers are going about retirement. A trend of working past the age of 65 might turn out to be good for Uncle Sam.