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More Credit Just Isn't In The Cards

Even though Black Friday shoppers turned out in force and spent three percent more than they did last year, economists are still pessimistic about the holiday shopping season. For one thing, shoppers zeroed in on loss leaders and other drastically marked down merchandise, depriving retailers of their usual profit margins. Another reason for the pessimism? Consumers who normally max out their credit cards on holiday spending have a lot less credit at their disposal this year. Read more...

Move It!

We may be packing on the pounds as a nation simply because, when you get right down to it, we don't move around enough during a typical day. Too many hours are spent in chairs in front of computers, or on couches watching TV or video game screens. Even chores have become mechanized with labor saving devices like riding lawn mowers. "Our society has evolved into one where convenience is everywhere," said Marianne Carter, director of the Delaware Center for Health Promotion. While picking up a rake and putting down the leaf blower is a good idea, scientists are looking for a shortcut -- a new weight loss drug. Read more...

It's Official

All the arguing over whether we are, or are not in a recession is over. We are and have been since December 2007. The National Bureau of Economic Research, a private, nonprofit group of economists based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, made the official finding Monday after studying economic date gathered so far this year. The loss of 1.2 million jobs this year was the biggest clue, the economists said. While unemployment could go still higher during the recession, one benefit to consumers is being felt at the gas pump – and there's nothing OPEC can do about it. Read more...

Hey, It's Not So Bad After All

In October the Food and Drug Administration told consumers it was OK if a little melamine showed up in their food, as long as it stayed under 2.5 parts per million. The only exception, the agency said, was infant formula. It said it had a zero tolerance on melamine in baby food. But after thinking about it for a couple of months, the FDA says a little melamine is OK for babies too. Read more...

You're Doing It Wrong

Retailers who dream up these Black Friday promotions need to find another line of work. Promotions designed to lure crazy people to line up at a store at 4 a.m. in hopes of getting a ridiculously priced sale item simply cross the line. Whether it's a shootout at Toys R' Us or a Wal-Mart employee getting trampled to death, Black Friday has become less about shopping and more about survival. And even if you do survive, there's no guarantee you'll go home with a bargain. Read more...

4 Things You Should Know Before You Refinance

That $600 billion the Federal Reserve pumped into the mortgage system last week is paying off in lower mortgage rates. By guaranteeing new mortgage loans, lenders are now more willing to lend, and as a result rates have plunged to well below six percent. You don't have to buy a house to cash in – you might profit by refinancing your current mortgage. But does it make sense to do that? It all depends. Read more...

The Fed Would Like You To Buy A House For Christmas

Among the government's many recent bailouts is the Federal Reserve's decision to buy up around $600 billion in mortgages. That's supposed to get mortgage money flowing to the real estate market again, and so far it appears to be working. Mortgage rates have dropped below six percent. Read more ...

Be Thankful For Lower Gas Prices

The Thanksgiving trip to Grandma's will cost less this year, as AAA notes that the nationwide average price of gasoline has fallen to around $1.86 a gallon for unleaded regular. That's about 22 cents a gallon cheaper than last Thanksgiving and is made possible by falling oil prices, which in turn are being forced lower by a tanking worldwide economy. Because of that, you might want to take the "for sale" sign off your SUV. Read more...

Pay Attention To What You're Feeding Your Pet

Planning something special for your pet's Thanksgiving feast? Look closely at the label first. Mars Petcare US is extending a recall of dry pet food after the FDA reported finding Salmonella in additional samples of the company's SPECIAL KITTY Gourmet Blend cat food. The recall affects a limited run of the product, which was distributed in just a handful of states. But it's a good idea to check and see if your state is one of them. Read more...

Graphics by Marisa Lisante. Photos, unless otherwise noted, by iStock.

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