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Retail Sales Up 1.1% in September

Americans stepped up their spending at retail businesses in September, reflecting their growing confidence in the economy. Retail sales rose 1.1 percent last month, the Commerce Department said. That followed a 1.2 percent increase in August. Both were the largest gains since October 2010.

Labor Day Sales: Your Holiday Savings Cheat Sheet

If you plan to chase away those end-of-summer blues with some retail therapy, DailyFinance has what you need: a rundown of some of the best deals and shopping tips for the Labor Day weekend, from the savings gurus at FatWallet.com, ShopItToMe.com, BradsDeals.com and DealDecor.com.

How to Put Your Electric Bill on Ice

The refrigerator is the second-biggest electricity hog in most homes, so if you want to trim your power bill, it's a great place to start. The best solution is to ditch your old one for a new, energy-efficient model, but if that isn't in your budget, here are a few options.

U.S. Factories Keep Humming: Orders Rose 2.1% in September

Investors got more evidence today that the manufacturing sector expansion continued into late summer/early fall. The key ex-transportation component also came in higher, at 0.4%. And the ex-defense number rose 1.9%. A solid month overall.