U.S. Economic Growth Slowed In 2019 To 2.3%
The Commerce Department says the U.S. economy grew 2.3% last year. That's slower than the previous year and well below the Trump administration's forecast.
consumer spending
Trump Dismisses Recession Fears, Saying Fed Must Help The Economy
The Trump administration pushed back hard against warnings of an economic slowdown. But the president is also calling on the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates again to help boost growth.
U.S. Economy Powers Ahead In First Quarter: 3.2% Growth
The Commerce Department says the U.S. economy picked up steam in the first three months of the year. GDP grew at an annual rate of 3.2% in the first quarter, up from 2.2% at the end of 2018,
Say It One More Time: The Economy Is Slowing
The U.S. economy grew more slowly at the end of 2018 than initially thought. "GDP growth is slowing from unsustainable rates," one economist says. The slowdown is expected to continue this year.
Americans Tightened Their Belts And It Might Hurt Economic Numbers Important To Trump
What started off as a strong holiday shopping season ended with a whimper, as December retail sales posted the sharpest drop in nine years. That could mean GDP growth will miss the president's target.
Online Big Spenders Tend To Be Men, NPR/Marist Poll Shows
Nearly 3 out of 10 online shoppers have taken the plunge to buy an item that costs $1,000 or more. Men are twice as likely as women to buy a big ticket item online, according to a new NPR/Marist poll.
Why Cheap Gas Might Not Be Good For The U.S. Economy
A drop in global oil prices saved U.S. drivers $100 billion last year. Good news, right? Not so, say some economists. The energy industry is now so big that cheap oil may actually hurt the economy.
Watchdog: Consumers 'More Responsible' With Credit Card Debt
Before the Great Recession, many Americans piled up too much credit card debt. Now, they seem to be a little wiser about using plastic, says the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
You've Saved Money At The Pump. Why Aren't You Spending It?
Falling oil prices haven't boosted economic growth as much as expected. That's partly because consumers have chosen to pay down debt and save some of the windfall rather than spend it all.
The Risky Boom In Carefree Social Payment Apps
Lots of young adults are using apps like Venmo to settle all kinds of debts. As the apps get more popular, they've become targets for scammers and hackers. But that hasn't seemed to scare away users.