Economy, December | featured news

US retail sales rose in December for the sixth consecutive month, but questions about the economy still remain.

Though December was weaker than expected, the overall holiday season was still relatively strong, analysts said.

The committee of academic economists that dates the beginning and end of recessions said it isn't ready to put an end date on the recession that began in December 2007.

Personal incomes rose more than expected in December and consumer spending increased for the third straight month, helping the economy slowly recover from the worst recession in decades.

The government said the economy shed 85,000 jobs last month, surprising forecasters, while the unemployment rate held steady at 10 percent.

Before leaving for Asia, the president discloses plans for a December event to highlight efforts to turn around the economy.