Consumer borrowing falls in March at fastest pace in over 18 years, Americans saving more

October 7th, 2009 Consumers cut borrowing by $12B in AugustWASHINGTON — Consumers reduced their borrowing for the seventh straight month in August, as households worked to pay off debt and banks reduced credit card limits. Americans are saving more and borrowing less as widespread job losses, stagnant wages and dwindling home values have spurred a move to greater frugality.

September 30th, 2009 Consumer confidence unexpectedly falls in Sept.NEW YORK — Cconsumers' confidence in the economy falls in September as Americans' worries about job security offset any enthusiasm about the rally in the stock market. The Conference Board says that the Consumer Confidence Index now stands at 53.1, down from the revised 54.5 reading in August.

September 30th, 2009 Japan prices tumble by record in AugustTOKYO — The government says prices in Japan tumbled at a record pace in August amid growing worries about jobs and wages. The country's core consumer price index fell 2.4 percent from a year earlier.

September 8th, 2009 Fed: consumers cut debt by record $21.6B in JulyWASHINGTON — Consumers slashed their borrowing in July by the largest amount on record as job losses and uncertainty about the economic recovery prompted Americans to rein in their debt. Economists expect consumers will continue to spend less, save more and trim debt to get household finances decimated by the recession into better shape.

August 11th, 2009 German consumer prices down 0.5 pct in JulyBERLIN — Consumer prices in Germany dropped by 0.5 percent on the year last month, government data showed Tuesday — a slight revision from a preliminary estimate of a 0.6 percent fall. The decline was the first since March 1987, when prices were down 0.3 percent on the year.

August 7th, 2009 Consumers cut debt for 5th straight monthWASHINGTON — Consumers paid down their credit cards and cut other debt in June for the fifth straight month as they rebuild savings battered by the recession. Outstanding U.S.

July 22nd, 2009 Whirlpool 2Q profit falls on lower consumer demandBENTON HARBOR, Mich. — Whirlpool, the world's largest maker of major home appliances, says its second-quarter profit fell 33 percent as consumer demand for its products significantly weakened.

July 8th, 2009 Fed: Consumers trim borrowing by $3.2B in MayWASHINGTON — Consumers trimmed borrowing in May for the fourth straight month as the recession took another bite out of investments and drove unemployment higher. Many economists predict that consumers will stay cautious in the months ahead, boding for a lethargic recovery if the downturn ends later this year as many expect.

June 30th, 2009 LONDON - The British economy shrank by 2.4 percent in the first quarter - the fastest rate of shrinkage in more than 50 years, according to official figures released Tuesday. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the contraction between January and March was the fastest since 1958.

June 5th, 2009 Consumer borrowing plunges by $15.7B in AprilWASHINGTON — Borrowing by consumers fell by $15.7 billion in April as U.S. households continued to trim spending and put away their credit cards amid a severe recession.

June 1st, 2009 Consumer spending dips; savings rate surgesWASHINGTON — Frugal consumers trimmed spending in April — although by less than expected — as rising unemployment kept pocketbooks in check and motivated Americans to save. With income growth far outpacing spending, Americans' personal savings rate zoomed to 5.7 percent, the highest since February 1995, the Commerce Department reported Monday.

May 8th, 2009 Marco Andretti fastest in Indy 500 practiceINDIANAPOLIS — Marco Andretti is the fastest driver after the first full day of practice for the Indianapolis 500. Thirty-two drivers were on the track Thursday, with Andretti's top lap at 225.478 mph.

February 9th, 2009 NEW DELHI - With the economic crisis taking a toll on the Indian economy, the government plans to borrow Rs.460 billion (about $9.45 billion) by late March from the market, a senior finance ministry official said Tuesday. 'We already had discussions with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

February 6th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Borrowing by American consumers tumbled for the third month in a row, falling by $6.6 billion to $2.562 trillion as the faltering US economy continues to pressure households to curb spending. Figures released by Federal Reserve, the US central bank, Friday suggest nearly twice the expected drop in December marked a decline from a downwardly revised $2.569 trillion in November.

February 2nd, 2009 WASHINGTON - US consumer spending dropped one percent in December, a record sixth straight monthly decline and rounding out the country's worst year for consumers since 1961, the commerce department said Monday. The drop from a month at an annual rate was larger than economists had predicted, according to Bloomberg News, and compared to a revised 0.8-percent drop in November.