March showed the steepest drop in personal income so far in 2009. The savings rate also increased, and has been above four percent since the beginning of the year. (Praveensg Minimalist Maximus)

BY FELICE BAKER – MEDILL NEWS SERVICE

Though

For many workers, confidence in retirement ability has become more fragile amidst economic turmoil. (Mississippi Family Law)

by FELICE BAKER – MEDILL NEWS SERVICE

Confidence among workers in their ability to secure a comfortable retirement declined to an all-time low in 2009, according to the 19th annual Retirement Confidence [...]

Consumer prices tumbled in March. (Therese Flanagan/FLICKR)

BY DEB WEINSTEIN- MEDILL NEWS SERVICE

Penny-pinching has taken a toll on prices, according to the latest read on the Consumer Price Index by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Reduced demand for gas, natural gas and oil exerted the  most pressure on the index, forcing consumer prices to [...]

Stricter credit guidelines and a higher savings rate are responsible for the decline in consumer credit in February. (Behance Network)

BY FELICE BAKER – MEDILL NEWS SERVICE

Consumer credit for February decreased at an annual rate of 3.5 percent. Despite a modest increase in [...]

BY CLAUDIA-TERESA POU – MEDILL NEWS SERVICE

The U.S. recession has been taking a toll on jobs, retail sales, the auto industry and almost every other sector, but has it been enough to get young adults to stop shopping?

Shopbop.com is Karen Leigh's website of choice. (Claudia-Teresa Pou/Medill)

I conducted my own [...]