Americans cut back on using their credit cards in September for the fourth straight month but boosted borrowing in the category that covers auto loans and student debt.
There are six fewer shopping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, so many retailers are rolling out deals and promotions before many folks have even finished their Halloween candy.
The Conference Board's latest consumer confidence index has dropped slightly, from 81.8 to 79.7, because many people are feeling less optimistic about pay hikes and wage increases over the next 6 months.
It's not even Halloween and already, many of the nation's retailers have rolled out the holiday displays and launched big sales promotions earlier than ever in anticipation of what experts have predicted will be a lackluster holiday shopping season.