consumer spending

North Dakotans, enriched by an oil boom, stepped up their spending at triple the national pace in the three years that followed the Great Recession. In Nevada, smacked hard by the housing bust, consumers barely increased their spending.

Last year, New Jersey business leaders cited burdensome regulations as their top concern in the annual New Jersey Business Climate Survey conducted by the State Chamber of Commerce and ParenteBeard. The newest poll released Wednesday revealed that business leaders are now most worried about consumer spending in the next year.

Hopes are rising that consumers will drive stronger growth in 2014 after they stepped up spending at the end of last year in the United States and Europe.

Americans are charging more according to a new study from CardHub.com.

The stock market fell on Wednesday as a poor earnings report from Macy's cast doubt on the outlook for consumer spending, a vital component of the U.S. economy.

Consumers may splurge a bit this fall. This, as they're beginning to feel better about the economy despite a slight dip in July. The consumer confidence index dipped to 80.3 in July, down from 82.1 in June, but numbers are still close to a five-and-a-half year high.

Americans increased their borrowing in May at the fastest pace in a year. Borrowing in the category that includes credit cards reached its highest point since the fall of 2010.

A new measure of consumer spending shows a 10 percent increase nationwide since the start of the Great Recession.

Americans cut back on using their credit cards in March, suggesting many were reluctant to take on high-interest debt to make purchases.

U.S. consumers increased their spending in December at a slower pace, while their income grew by the largest amount in eight years. Income surged because companies rushed to pay dividends before income taxes increased on high-earners.