Stocks have been little changed today. The Dow surged 339 points yesterday, its biggest gain since Aug. 11. The Dow is headed for its biggest monthly gain since 1987.
- Consumer spending rose 0.6 percent last month, much better than the previous month. Consumers earned only 0.1 percent last month. And after adjusting for inflation, their after-tax incomes fell 0.1 percent last month - the third straight monthly decline.
- Radio station owner Clear Channel Communications says it dismissed some on-air and off-air staff earlier this week. The move is part of a reshaping of its regional and local programming that should enable it to seek out advertisers focused on areas wider than a single market.
- As the run-up to holiday shopping intensifies, retailer Target says its stores will open at midnight on Thanksgiving Day for the first time this year. That's four hours earlier than last year.
- Drugmaker Merck says its third-quarter profit soared from a year ago - a weak quarter weighed down by huge acquisition and legal charges. But compared to the second quarter, prescription drug sales were flat and total revenue was down 1 percent.
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Iowa Now Receiving Federal Funding To Help Repair Storm Damage
