No one goes into Walmart (WMT) and asks to pay extra sales tax. Thus sales taxes are reasonable barometers for retail sales. This week we look at how taxes are doing in a period of economic recovery.

The S&P 500 rose for a sixth successive session, its best run since June of ‘07, as it and the Dow each ended at highs for the year, although an afternoon about-face on vacation volume mean

An uptick in merger activity saw stocks snap a three day skid to post their biggest gains since the end of August, albeit on anemic volume. Investors enjoyed the view atop both Gander Mountain Compan

After hitting 11-month highs on Tuesday, stocks slipped in subsequent sessions and ended with their steepest weekly drop since July. The Lost Symbol won big at bookstores but tickers everywhere tanke

On August 9, when I headed out for countries and parts unknown, the intraday high on the cash S&P 500 was 1018. Tuesday, upon my return, the low posted this day after Labor Day was 1018. Sell in

It takes but a second for me to call the flavor up in my mind. Oh the sweet joy, the summer delight, the heavenly aroma and flavor of lobster. While Mary Tyler Moore -- one of my heroes and post

Some citizens in Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New York, and Arizona ask a basic question as the economy continues to falter: Why should Uncle Sam print all the money?Governments typically cr

Editor's Note: This is part 1 of a multi-part series. See part 2 here.A few weeks ago I first used the term “statistical recovery” to describe the nature of today’s economic environ

Apparently, when times are tough, Americans are less inclined to burn through their precious dollars at slot machines and blackjack tables. As consumers across the country readjust their spending hab

The economic downturn has led many to boost their savings. Some economists predict the savings rate, the difference between earnings and expenditures, will rebound to 3% to 5% this year after a negat