US stocks set for slightly lower open after rises in both personal spending and savings rate

October 1st, 2009 Stocks open lower after jobs, income dataNEW YORK — Stocks retreated in early trading Thursday after two government reports suggested the economy is still poised for a slow recovery. The Labor Department said new claims for jobless benefits rose more than expected to 551,000, evidence that the labor market is struggling and that jobs remain scarce.

August 11th, 2009 Stocks open slightly lower ahead of Fed meetingNEW YORK — Stocks fell moderately in early trading Tuesday as the Federal Reserve begins a two-day meeting that could provide new insight into how the economy is faring. It is widely expected that the central bank will hold interest rates steady at near zero when they end their meeting Wednesday, but investors will be keeping a close watch on what the Fed has to say about the current state of the economy.

August 4th, 2009 Market pauses from recent runup, stocks open lowerNEW YORK — Investors are pausing after the market's huge rally, pushing stocks slightly lower as they wait for more confirmation that the economic recovery is under way. The early slide in stocks on Tuesday follows mostly lower trading on overseas markets and comes after a three-week-long rally that catapulted the benchmark Standard & Poor's 500 index past the 1,000 mark on Monday for the first time since November.

August 4th, 2009 Consumer spending rises in June, incomes dropWASHINGTON — Consumers opened their wallets and pocketbooks a bit more in June, increasing their spending for the second straight month while saving less, even as incomes fell sharply. Consumer spending is closely watched because it accounts for about 70 percent of total economic activity.

August 3rd, 2009 Construction spending rises unexpectedlyWASHINGTON — Construction spending rose for the second time in three months in June as residential building increased and government-funded infrastructure projects jumped. The report provides fresh evidence the housing sector may be recovering, while the rise in government spending was partly due to the Obama administration's $787 billion stimulus package, economists said.

June 27th, 2009 NEW YORK - The US stocks were mostly down Friday, spurred by new government data that revealed consumers were saving money rather than spending. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and broader Standard and Poor's 500 slid, but the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index was up for the day and week.

June 26th, 2009 European, US markets fall on savings rate dataLONDON — European stocks lost earlier gains Friday, trailing Wall Street lower after data showed U.S. consumers are spending less than they're saving.

June 26th, 2009 Stocks end mixed as savings rate jumpsNEW YORK — Consumers are saving more than they're spending, and that has investors worried. Stocks capped a choppy week of trading with a mixed finish Friday after the Commerce Department reported that personal spending, incomes and savings all rose in May.

June 26th, 2009 Stock futures decline as savings rate jumpsNEW YORK — Investors are nervous about the savings rate outpacing spending. Stock futures lost ground early Friday after the Commerce Department reported that personal spending, incomes and savings all rose in May.

June 26th, 2009 Stock market slides as savings rate jumpsNEW YORK — Investors are nervous because consumers are saving more than they're spending. Stocks were mostly lower Friday after the Commerce Department reported that personal spending, incomes and savings all rose in May.

June 26th, 2009 Stock market declines as savings rate jumpsNEW YORK — Investors are nervous because consumers are saving more than they're spending. Stocks are down Friday after the Commerce Department reported that personal spending, incomes and savings all rose in May.

June 26th, 2009 Dollar lower as personal spending, savings riseNEW YORK — The dollar was lower Friday after data showed that personal spending, incomes and savings all rose in May, suggesting consumers are being extremely careful with their money. The 16-nation euro bought $1.4077 in afternoon New York trading, up from the $1.3987 it bought late Thursday, while the British pound jumped to $1.6531 from $1.6369.

June 26th, 2009 Stock market mixed as savings rate jumpsNEW YORK — Investors are nervous because consumers are saving more than they're spending. Stocks were mixed Friday after the Commerce Department reported that personal spending, incomes and savings all rose in May.

June 5th, 2009 Stocks drift as unemployment rate checks gainsNEW YORK — With unemployment still rising, investors are questioning if stocks should be, too. Stocks ended a volatile Friday little changed after the government reported a surprising drop in job losses for May but also a spike in the unemployment rate to 9.4 percent.

April 29th, 2009 Stocks open slightly higher after 2 days of lossesNEW YORK — Investors are sending stocks higher following two days of losses, even after a worse-than-expected reading on the economy. The Commerce Department says the gross domestic product shrank at an annual rate of 6.1 percent at the start of this year.