For the past few years, it has seemed like depressing economic news has been America's only actual growth industry, and all that negativity is still echoing in our heads. Across the age spectrum, we're downbeat about the future, even as the signs are finally looking up.
The oracles who read economic tea leaves have a host of conventional forecasting tools, but housing starts and job growth figures can only tell you so much. To cut through the haze of data, sometimes it takes an unconventional indicator -- for example, the Hair Index.
Americans are focusing on the good amid the latest barrage of conflicting economic news. The Consumer Confidence Index barely budged in March after hitting its highest level since before the financial crisis began in February.
So you want to be a millionaire and you're wondering what it takes? Finding the right career is a good place to start -- think doctor, manager or business owner. But people in at least one field hold a greater chance of living in a millionaire household than you'd ever guess.
It'll be a good Easter for sellers of brightly colored outfits and chocolate bunnies: Americans are expected to shell out 11% more for the holiday this year.
A new economic forecast calls for the U.S. economy to make some modest growth strides this year, but not quite enough to significantly reduce the number of jobless Americans looking for work.
U.S. factory output surged in December by the most in year. Stronger demand for business equipment, vehicles and energy offered the most visible evidence that manufacturing has roared back from the depths of the recession. The Fed said Wednesday that manufacturing increased 0.9% in December, the biggest gain since December 2010.
By most indications, the U.S. economy is recovering fairly well for the time being. But across the Pond in Europe, another story is unfolding that has the stock market worried -- and it should have your attention, too.
With all the varied estimations of the chances that the U.S. is headed into a new recession, someone must have gotten it right ... right? But whom?
Nearly every homeowner has some ideas for a makeover, but with the housing market as it is, many of us have chosen to put them on hold. Now, there are positive signs on the horizon that might encourage you to break out the tools.
The news from the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis was mixed Wednesday. Consumer spending rose in October, but just barely. Incomes were up a bit, but savings did too. And employment figures were just conflicted.
Historically, women's heel sizes reach new heights when the economy is down, and fall when it's prosperous. But come winter and spring, we'll be seeing more women in kitten heels and flats, despite the continuing economic doldrums.
The American consumer's financial health is showing signs of improvement, but the weak job market continues to derail the nation's economic recovery -- particularly for people in the lower income brackets, according to September's Consumer Reports Index, released on Tuesday.
When it comes to the the state of their family finances, Americans seem to be moving toward the "acceptance" stage. Some of us think our own household scenarios will get better in the coming year, some of us dread things getting worse, but mostly, we expect more of the same.
Despite rosy financial forecasts made by economists this spring, our fears that the nation is about to sink into another depression are reaching depressing extremes. A new CNN poll reveals that nearly half of Americans believe a 1930s-scale depression is possible within the next 12 months.