According to workforce management company Kronos, the Retail Labor Index increased to 3.87 percent in November. The rate was the highest the index has seen in 2009, and roughly translates to mean that nearly four hirings occurred for every 100 applications received at retailers. The survey also found that there were 49,412 hires in November, […]
Consumers facing debt consolidation and running low on emergency funds received encouraging news on Friday as the national unemployment rate declined for the first time since the late summer. According to a new report released by the U.S. Department of Labor detailing the employment situation for November, the national unemployment rate dropped slightly as it […]
Newly released data may produce mixed emotions for jobless struggling with debt management problems, as more than 160,000 jobs were cut in November despite employers’ reducing the amount of jobs they are shedding yet again. According to ADP’s most recent national employment report released on Wednesday, nonfarm private employment payrolls decreased by a seasonally adjusted […]
An overwhelming number of adults are expecting to experience stress this holiday season, while one in three expect additional worries due to bill consolidation and other financial issues caused by the current economic downturn. According to a newly released Holiday Stress Index commissioned by Breakthrough at Caron and conducted by Harris Interactive, 38 percent of […]
While many consumers may be dealing with bill consolidation and other financial issues following the recession, more are becoming confident that their fortunes will improve in 2010. According to the most recent WealthWizards Worry Index released on Tuesday, an increasing amount of consumers are expecting for their lives to improve once 2010 gets underway. After […]
While more consumers ventured out to stores on Black Friday than they had one year earlier, spending saw a decrease to kick off the 2009 holiday season. According to the National Retail Federation, the average consumer who participated in Black Friday sales spent an average of $343.31. The figure was 7.9 percent below the $372.57 […]
In the wake of a recession that saw the sudden disappearance of many senior citizens’ retirement funds and nest eggs, food pantries across the country are seeing increased amounts of the elderly using their services so they can put food on the table. Citing Department of Agriculture statistics, the Huffington Post recently reported that the […]
Real consumer spending increased in October for the fourth straight month, showing further signs that the economy is slowly on its way to recovery as fewer consumers need to consolidate debt. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis’s Personal Income and Outlays report for October, personal income increased by 0.2 percent, or $30.1 billion, while […]
With the holiday shopping season now officially underway, Americans across the country are taking to both brick-and-mortar and online retailers to stock up on gifts for loved ones. However, because of the increased damage that an ill-timed identity theft could cause cash-strapped consumers looking to consolidate debt, online security company McAfee has compiled a list […]
A newly released report by the Government Accountability Office confirming that credit card interchange fees increase costs for merchants has led to many organizations calling for Congress to enact reforms. Following the report’s release, the National Association of Convenience Stores issued a statement calling the fees, which are assessed on a merchant every time a […]