consumer spending – News Stories About consumer spending - Page 6

MARKETS

Aug 29, 2008 3:24 PM CDT

Dell, Income Data Sour Stocks

3-day streak of gains broken on weak computer profits, lower income figures

(Newser) - Stocks lost value today on disappointing second-quarter earnings from computer maker Dell and news of declining personal incomes, MarketWatch reports. Trading remained light ahead of the Labor Day weekend as the Dow lost 171.22 to close at 11,543.96. The Nasdaq dropped 44.12, to 2,367.52,...

Shopping in US Looks Like the 1970s: Analyst

Jul 20, 2008 8:01 PM CDT

Shopping in US Looks Like the 1970s: Analyst

Automotive industry, discounters predict permanent shift

(Newser) - Retailers and marketers are closely watching American shopping trends, knowing that recession habits can linger for years, the AP reports. Studies show that 63% of Americans have cut down spending by coupon-cutting, biking to work, and buying store brands. They're also buying smaller cars and shopping at discounters. "We...

Stocks Rebound on GM News

MARKETS

Jul 1, 2008 3:31 PM CDT

Stocks Rebound on GM News

Markets edge upwards after big fall early in the session

(Newser) - Stocks rebounded from an early slump today after a better-than-expected sales report from General Motors, the Wall Street Journal reports. The GM news also pushed up stocks of other troubled automakers. The Dow ended up 32.25 at 11,382.26, the Nasdaq up 11.99 at 2,304.97,...

Stimulus' Boost Seen; How Long It Lasts Unsure

Jun 27, 2008 2:22 PM CDT

Stimulus' Boost Seen; How Long It Lasts Unsure

Economists debate impact, as inflation outpaces wage growth

(Newser) - The government's stimulus package has worked—for now at least, the New York Times reports. Spending rose 0.4% last month, the Commerce Department said today, buoyed by the $50 billion in checks sent to consumers. But subtract the stimulus, and income levels rose only modestly, and wage growth lagged...

Rebate Checks Go to Gas, Food, Looming Debt

Jun 1, 2008 9:44 AM CDT

Rebate Checks Go to Gas, Food, Looming Debt

Extravagant spending sprees at the mall? Not so much

(Newser) - Rather than the gluttonous splurge on flat-screen TVs and foreign vacations that Uncle Sam had envisioned, most Americans are plunking their rebate checks down on exorbitant gas and food costs--and their mounting debt. “The initial sense is that people are not running out the malls,” one economist told...

Retail Sales Rise, but Consumers Spend Cautiously

Economy

May 8, 2008 9:04 AM CDT

Retail Sales Rise, but Consumers Spend Cautiously

...consumers spend cautiously and retailers hurt

(Newser) - Consumers gave some of the nation's retailers a little relief in April, following months of dismal sales, but business was helped along by heavy discounting that could hurt fiscal first-quarter earnings, AP reports. Early sales reports issued yesterday showed that shoppers—who are contending with rising gas prices, sagging home...

This Won't Be the Mother
of All Mother's Days

May 6, 2008 4:43 AM CDT

This Won't Be the Mother of All Mother's Days

Gift spending shrinks for poor old mom amid financial crunch

(Newser) - Even gifts for mom aren't immune to the economic crunch, Newsday reports. Spending on Mother's Day gifts is thought to be dipping, but only by an average of 50 cents, from last year's $139.14, according to a consumer survey. Only 13% of consumers plan to spend more this year....

Bankrupt, Linens 'n Things
Will Fold 120 Stores

May 2, 2008 5:45 PM CDT

Bankrupt, Linens 'n Things Will Fold 120 Stores

Retailer files for Chapter 11 as consumer spending falls

(Newser) - Linens 'n Things filed for bankruptcy protection today, MarketWatch reports, and plans to close 120 stores nationwide as other operations continue. "The significant deterioration in the mortgage, housing and credit markets and the resulting impact on the retail marketplace, particularly the home sector, has overwhelmed the operating and merchandising...

Economy Grew at a Crawl
in First Quarter

Indicators

Apr 30, 2008 8:44 AM CDT

Economy Grew at a Crawl in First Quarter

What happened to the recession?

(Newser) - The US Gross Domestic Product rose at a 0.6% annual pace in the first quarter, despite the widespread belief that the economy is in recession, Bloomberg reports. The number stayed positive thanks to a surge in inventories, which offset flagging consumer spending and business investment. “We think we're...

Restaurants, Retailers Gulp
as Consumers Tighten Belts

Apr 27, 2008 11:46 AM CDT

Restaurants, Retailers Gulp as Consumers Tighten Belts

Penny pinchers shifting to generics, eating in

(Newser) - The rising price of staples like milk and gas, coupled with layoffs and flat-lining wages, is creating a nation of penny-pinching consumers, the New York Times reports. Industry is taking notice as buyers substitute generic brands for top-of-the-line products and skip eating out at restaurants.

Retailers Checking Out as Economy Falters

Apr 15, 2008 8:00 AM CDT

Retailers Checking Out as Economy Falters

Each default brings widespread fallout

(Newser) - Stores across the country are closing their doors, the New York Times reports, victims of a downturn in consumer spending. Retailers are often heavily leveraged, and as the economy falters banks are tightening credit. Several chains, including Sharper Image, have declared bankruptcy; others like Footlocker, Ann Taylor, and Zales are...

Gas Fuels US Retail Sales, Up 0.2% in March

Apr 14, 2008 10:25 AM CDT

Gas Fuels US Retail Sales, Up 0.2% in March

Inflation may also be factor as spending remains flat otherwise

(Newser) - US retail purchases rose in March by 0.2%, pushed up by higher prices at the gasoline pump, Bloomberg reports. Purchases excluding gasoline were unchanged, and consumer spending is still on its way down, causing investors to think that the Federal Reserve might again look to cut interest rates—despite...

Plastic Surgeons
Feel Subprime
Pain

Apr 5, 2008 2:55 PM CDT

Plastic Surgeons Feel Subprime Pain

Multi-billion dollar industry sagging noticeably

(Newser) - The subprime crisis has hit Goldy Anthony hard; she can’t even afford her bi-monthly trips to the plastic surgeon anymore. “I would rather have Botox than go out to dinner, but it’s just gotten so bad,” says Anthony, who works in Los Angeles' slumping mortgage business....

Personal Spending Slows
to a Crawl in February

Mar 28, 2008 11:37 AM CDT

Personal Spending Slows to a Crawl in February

Inflation cooling, but consumer confidence is down

(Newser) - Personal spending—a major force in the health of the economy— rose just 0.1% in February, its smallest increase in 16 months, the Wall Street Journal reports. The increase, which actually beat analysts' estimate of a 0.1% decrease, came despite a bump in personal income and signs that...

GDP Growth Weakest Since '02

Mar 27, 2008 12:46 PM CDT

GDP Growth Weakest Since '02

0.6% increase matches estimates; markets still focused on credit issues

(Newser) - The US economy sputtered—as expected—in the fourth quarter of 2007, growing at the slowest rate since 2002, MarketWatch reports. Estimated growth of the US gross domestic product was 0.6% for the last three months of 2007, matching economists' forecasts. Consumer spending grew 2.3%, and exports increased...

Retailers Expressing Gratitude

Mar 19, 2008 1:58 PM CDT

Retailers Expressing Gratitude

Slow economy sparks personal greetings from retailers

(Newser) - Today's slow economy has sparked more retailers to thank shoppers with bouquets and personal notes, Portfolio reports. Common for big spenders, such thank-yous are now mailed to regular shoppers too—like one reporter who bought two shirts and a jacket at Nordstrom. "Our salespeople build relationships with their customers...

Credit Crunch
Slows Spending

Mar 18, 2008 11:10 AM CDT

Credit Crunch Slows Spending

Consumers, businesses tighten belts just as economy needs fuel

(Newser) - Fewer credit card offers, tougher mortgage requirements, and a slowdown in business expansion all are likely because of the worsening credit crisis, reports the Washington Post. Banks are looking to limit exposure to high-risk customers and restore their own bottom lines. And that’s tough medicine for an economy that’...

Wal-Mart Leads Feb. Retail Rally

Mar 6, 2008 10:47 AM CST

Wal-Mart Leads Feb. Retail Rally

Overall sales jump doubles expectations, calms consumer spending fears

(Newser) - Big retailers showed unexpected signs of life in February, beating weak sales predictions to inject some hope into the market. Wal-Mart led the way, posting a 2.6% same-store increase, beating its own predictions of flat-to-2% growth. Overall, same-store sales climbed 1.9%, with more than half of retailers beating...

Tanking Dow Drops 315 Points

MARKETS

Feb 29, 2008 3:15 PM CST

Tanking Dow Drops 315 Points

Huge AIG, Dell losses spark sell-off

(Newser) - The Dow lost an incredible 315.79 points today to close at 12,266.39 as AIG reported the biggest losses in its history and bellwether Dell reported a year-over-year fourth-quarter profit decline of 6%. The Nasdaq slipped 60.09 to 2,271.48, and the S&P 500 lost...

Consumer Spending Stalls Again

Feb 29, 2008 12:03 PM CST

Consumer Spending Stalls Again

Confidence is falling as inflation rises

(Newser) - Consumer spending rose more than expected in January—but only because prices did so as well, Bloomberg reports. Adjusted for inflation, spending remained flat for the second straight month. With fuel costs rising, banks restricting loans, and property values falling, “consumers are clearly hard-pressed to maintain their standard of...