Retail sales delivered the weakest performance in five months in July as shoppers shunned autos while they paid more for gas. ...more

August 14, 2008

Rising prices, falling home values, stagnant wages and tight credit. It's a potent combination that has struck the American consumer hard. ...more

August 5, 2008

Christmas in July? Maybe not a bad idea this year. Retailers are already talking about price increases of up to 15 percent this year on holiday goods, from staples like tree ornaments and toys to luxury gifts like European handbags and clothing. The main cause? It's the same old chestnut, soaring energy prices. ...more

July 31, 2008

Consumer spending is down and gas prices are up. That's bad math for the scores of destination retailers across the country that want customers to fill up the tank for a gas-guzzling day of retail therapy. ...more

July 29, 2008

Steve & Barry's, once a growing force in low-priced fashion retailing, said Wednesday that it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the latest merchant to succumb to a harsh consumer spending climate. ...more

July 10, 2008

All those job cuts at automakers, newspapers and even Starbucks are hard to stomach. But in a roundabout way, they may actually help the economy a bit. ...more

July 4, 2008

The holiday shopping season is still months away, but a growing number of economists are predicting it could be worse than last year - which is to say, disastrous. ...more

June 26, 2008

It isn't easy being an economist nowadays. Everyone wants a rosy report on the economy, but all Bob Allsbrook can offer - at least for now - is more pain for Florida housing and its economy. ...more

June 26, 2008

U.S. consumers are the gloomiest they've been since the tail end of the last prolonged recession. Inflation, sinking home values and soaring gasoline prices have pushed confidence to the lowest level since 1992. Consumers' view of the economic future has never been lower, raising worries that already weak consumer spending could deteriorate further. ...more

June 25, 2008

Just two months ago, Aaron Brokenbough had no clout and little say when lenders moved to foreclose on his home. His Philadelphia row house was scheduled for a sheriff's sale, the end of the road for most homeowners who are behind in mortgage payments. ...more

June 17, 2008