It’s easy to be pessimistic these days. Libya’s civil war, surging oil prices and the disaster in Japan have combined forces to send financial markets tumbling. But the cold, hard facts about the economy paint a more optimistic…
The U.S. set the forces of globalization in motion, and now more than ever, it’s clear we’re suffering the consequences: high unemployment, stagnant or declining incomes, and rising costs for goods. Can the policies of the surg…
Bad economic news across the board is weighing on Americans’ mood this month. The consumer sentiment index fell to a 5-month low in March, thanks to increases in the U.S. trade deficit, higher jobless claims, and a more than 4…
Retailers got some unexpected love from shoppers in the form of strong February sales. But whether consumers repeat the feat in spring could depend on gasoline prices and how they feel about their finances. So, March could be t…
Most forecasts expect the month will show 3% growth or better over the same time last year when major merchants report their tallies on Thursday. One thing seems clear: Higher-end households were more willing to spend than lowe…