consumer

U.S.

The company said total sales for the five weeks ended July 2 were up 8.7% to $258.6 million.

Saks has a potential upside of 2.4% based on a current price of $11.64 and an average consensus analyst price target of $11.92.

Saks Inc. (NYSE:SKS) said that its June sales at stores open at least one year rose 11.9%. Analysts had expected same-store sales to rise 7%.

Consumer shares are higher in mid-day trading while McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) turns positive after briefly dipping into red this morning. McDonald's said May global comparable sales rose 3.1%. U.S. comparable sales increased 2.4%, Eur

The present situation index declined to 39.3 from 40.2, and the index for future expectations declined to 75.2 from 83.2 last month.

The cutoff date for these preliminary results for the month was May 18, 2011.

Lynn Franco, Director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center commented: "A more pessimistic outlook is the primary reason for this month's decline in consumer confidence.

The Conference Board's consumer confidence index decreased to 60.8 in May, down from 66.0 in April. Economists had expected an increase to 67.5 for May.

Economists had expected CPI to rise to 0.4% overall, with a 0.2% increase in the core rate.

Consumer prices have risen 3.2% over the past year, which is the largest 12-month increase since October of 2008.

The Labor Department reported that U.S. consumer prices rose a seasonally adjusted 0.4% in April, led by higher gasoline costs. Core prices rose 0.2%, excluding food and energy costs.

A recent study shows that household finances are not only leading to quarrels but couples going so far as having their own individual secret stash. From sock money to private credit card accounts, the study, conducted by American

Pay taxes or get free stuff? What would you rather do on Tax Day? Even with the Monday extension for filing, a number of businesses are offering deals today and Monday to consumers. More than a dozen national companies are offe