Americans may have slowed their spending in September after splurging during the start of the busy back-to-school shopping season in the month before. But most importantly, they were still spending. September sales rose 3.9 percent — a slowdown from the ...

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NEW YORK — Americans’ confidence in the economy jumped this month to the highest level since February, bolstered by a brighter outlook for overall business conditions and hiring. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its Consumer Confidence Index rose to ...

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NEW YORK — Americans are feeling worse about the economy than they have in a long time — a fact that could have wide-reaching implications everywhere from Wal-Mart to the White House. Despite improving U.S. job and housing markets, consumer ...

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NEW YORK — Americans breathed a bit easier about the economy in July, as a better outlook on short-term hiring and lower gas prices offset lingering worries about poor income growth. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its Consumer Confidence ...

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DETROIT — The raft of gloomy economic news may be starting to hurt U.S. auto sales. Industry analysts and dealers said this week that sales during the first half of July slowed a bit from the robust pace in June. ...

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WASHINGTON — Americans put more on their credit cards in May than in any single month since November 2007, one month before the Great Recession began. But overall credit card use is still well below where it was just before ...

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WASHINGTON — Fewer people applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, and a private survey showed hiring picked up in June. The reports offered some hope for the job market after three sluggish months of hiring. Weekly unemployment benefit applications ...

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WASHINGTON — Companies placed more orders with U.S. factories in May from April, demanding more computers, machinery and other equipment that signal investment plans. The increase is a welcome sign after two months of declining factory orders. Still, factory orders ...

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WASHINGTON — U.S. manufacturing shrank in June for the first time in nearly three years, adding to signs that economic growth is weakening. Production declined, and the number of new orders plunged, according to a monthly report released Monday by ...

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WASHINGTON — Americans signed more contracts to buy previously occupied homes in May, matching the fastest pace in two years. The increase suggests consumers are gaining confidence in the housing market and a modest recovery will continue. The National Association ...

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