Economy, Consumers | featured news

Consumer sentiment improved a bit in late September but remained weak as a mixed bag of economic reports added up to a picture of sluggish growth.

Renewed fears of a so-called “double-dip” recession are weighing on investors, spooking consumers and slowing businesses from hiring.

U.S. consumer sentiment weakened in early July to its lowest in 11 months on a resurgence in fears about the economy, a year since the recovery began, a private survey shows.

The cost of doing business in China is going up, and that could drive up consumer prices in the United States and Europe.

In his weekly radio and Internet address, President Obama said that Congress needed to enact reforms to protect consumers, keep banks strong and safeguard the U.S. economy.

Consumers spent more on gasoline and a wide range of other goods, data showed, raising hopes of a self-sustaining economic recovery.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Friday a government program intended to spark lending to consumers and businesses is still necessary even with other emergency lending programs winding down as the economy recovers.

Consumer sentiment rose more than expected in August, an indication that Americans' pessimism about the economy may be lifting.

Mall-based chains continue to be hit hardest as consumers focus on necessities, but the warehouse club operator Costco’s results also missed analyst estimates.

Soaring unemployment and a shrinking economy drove delinquencies on credit card debt to an all-time high in the first quarter.