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For U.S. consumers, COVID-19 is not a big concern ... yet

Feb 24, 2020
U.S. financial markets plunged Monday on growing fears of the disease. Consumers have not shown concern, but that could change.
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Businesses are cutting back their investments

Jan 28, 2020
Capital goods orders in December dropped the most in eight months.
Durable goods, like washing machines, were up in December. But business investment in capital goods is not doing so well.
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What is consumer confidence, anyway?

Nov 26, 2019
The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index has fallen for the fourth straight month, but what does that really mean?
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Consumers are feeling good about where the economy's headed

Oct 14, 2019
They're willing to spend because they expect to be earning more next year.
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Why do we care how consumers feel about the economy?

Sep 26, 2019
Consumer spending accounts for about 70% of gross domestic product.
Pedestrians walk through a shopping district in lower Manhattan in New York City.
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Survey finds business leaders are more downbeat

Jun 12, 2019
Duke University's Global Business Outlook finds nearly half of U.S. CFOs expect a recession by spring 2020.
A sign is posted on the window of a closed CVS store on June 10, 2019 in San Francisco, California.
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Maybe a recession is not as imminent as we think

Apr 23, 2019
Retails sales are up, wages are rising and economists are beginning to revise their thinking.
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Economy slows, consumer confidence grows. What?

Mar 15, 2019
The early March sentiment survey from the University of Michigan shows Americans’ good feelings about the state of economy are up more than 4 percent and expectations for the future increased more than 5 percent. At the same time, there’s a growing pile of economic data pointing to a slowing economy. How does one square this? […]

Fed: U.S. household net worth drops to lowest level since financial crisis

Mar 8, 2019
The Federal Reserve reports the net worth of U.S. households dropped 3.4 percent in the fourth quarter of last year and is now at the lowest level since the financial crisis. A look at what that drop could mean for economic optimism.  Click the audio player above to hear the full story.
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Economy remains strong, but there are warning signs

Nov 30, 2018
Consumer spending rose in September at its fastest pace in seven months. Personal incomes rose by the largest amount in nine months. Inflation seems under control. All of this can be seen as signs of future economic growth, so the economy is in good shape, right? Well, there are some warning signs worth watching. Click […]