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All those pandemic savings? They might already be gone

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.
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Furniture sellers adapt to a nationwide drop in sales

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

FedEx and UPS hike prices for 2024, but not as much

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

Service-sector businesses feel upbeat about "business conditions"

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

Consumers are finding ways to justify spending, even if it busts their budget

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

Spending on games and hobbies is up as consumers prepare to hunker down for fall

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

Despite rising interest rates, consumers increased their spending in July

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

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

Even as GDP growth cools, consumer spending is keeping the economy humming

Aug 30, 2023
Consumer spending, which accounts for most of GDP, grew more in the second quarter than initially reported.
"If the consumer is strong, you basically don't have to worry about much else," says Baird analyst Ross Mayfield.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

Retail inventories have dropped. But discounts might stick around.

Aug 16, 2023
Over the last year, many retailers have been successfully using discounts to purge their excess inventories. Now, retailers might use discounts to lure skittish consumers.
Target announced its inventories were down 17% from last year.
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