3. Lending
Consumers aren't borrowing just to buy homes. They're taking on debt for cars and using credit cards for lots of other things.
Americans had $3.843 trillion in loans outstanding in May, up from $3.766 trillion at the end of last year, according to the Fed.
And businesses are borrowing more, reversing a trend from earlier this year.
That could be a good sign for Trump and the economy.
Consumers can't prop up the economy alone: Companies need to pull their weight and invest.
4. Consumer spending
Big stores including Macy's, Kohl's and J.C. Penney report earnings this week, and the results could be lousy.
The dominance of Amazon is one reason.
But Americans may also be spending less on clothes, toys and other smaller purchases -- even though they're taking out more loans.
Retail sales fell 0.2% in June. Economists were expecting a slight increase.
And overall consumer spending was up just 0.1% in June.
Spending has increased 2.8% over the past 12 months, a bit below the 3% pace many experts feel is necessary to keep the economy on track.
Consumers aren't borrowing just to buy homes. They're taking on debt for cars and using credit cards for lots of other things.
Americans had $3.843 trillion in loans outstanding in May, up from $3.766 trillion at the end of last year, according to the Fed.
And businesses are borrowing more, reversing a trend from earlier this year.
That could be a good sign for Trump and the economy.
Consumers can't prop up the economy alone: Companies need to pull their weight and invest.
4. Consumer spending
Big stores including Macy's, Kohl's and J.C. Penney report earnings this week, and the results could be lousy.
The dominance of Amazon is one reason.
But Americans may also be spending less on clothes, toys and other smaller purchases -- even though they're taking out more loans.
Retail sales fell 0.2% in June. Economists were expecting a slight increase.
And overall consumer spending was up just 0.1% in June.
Spending has increased 2.8% over the past 12 months, a bit below the 3% pace many experts feel is necessary to keep the economy on track.
