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Consumer News

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Americans more optimistic economy is looking up, poll says

9:50 PM, May 14, 2012

Americans may be downbeat about today's economy, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds, but they are increasingly optimistic that things are about to get better for the nation and themselves.

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Boomer retirements color jobless rate

10:10 PM, May 6, 2012

Many more employed than unemployed Americans dropped out of the labor force last month, likely indicating that most were retirees rather than discouraged workers, says Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody's Analytics.

National gas prices down 7 cents in past 2 weeks

4:57 PM, May 6, 2012

The average price of a gallon of gasoline nationwide has dropped seven cents over the past two weeks.

9 things to always buy with a credit card

7:32 AM, May 3, 2012

Easy swipe, easy go makes a lot of people hesitant to use credit cards.

Target to drop Amazon's Kindle products

8:52 PM, May 2, 2012

Retail giant Target says it will no longer sell Amazon's line of Kindle e-readers and tablets at stores or through its website, reports the Associated Press.

Bad news about jobs spooks markets

4:19 PM, May 2, 2012

U.S. stocks are ending the day mixed as investors weighed troubling jobs reports.

Dow Jones average hits highest mark since '07

4:20 PM, May 1, 2012

The Dow Jones industrial average is closing at its highest level in more than four years.

Toyota, Chrysler see big April sales gains

4:18 PM, May 1, 2012

Toyota and Chrysler are reporting big U.S. sales gains in April -- but those gains came at the expense of GM and Ford.

Progress Energy wants customers to pay more

11:31 AM, May 1, 2012

Progress Energy wants power customers to pay more next year to support its nuclear projects.

Nutella health claims net $3.05 million settlement

9:15 AM, May 1, 2012

A class-action lawsuit over the spread's purported health claims has just been settled, with a judge siding with a parent who says she was duped into believing it was good for her kids.

Kashi cereal's 'natural' claims stir anger

3:42 PM, Apr 29, 2012

Kellogg's is facing anger on social media sites because of complaints that its popular Kashi brand of cold cereals doesn't live up to the company's "natural" billing on advertisements and box covers.

Free 'Do Not Call' subscription gets huge response

5:07 PM, Apr 26, 2012

Floridians race to sign up for the state's Do Not Call List now that the program is free.

S. Korea suspends U.S. beef sales over mad cow disease

10:07 AM, Apr 25, 2012

Two major South Korean retailers pulled U.S. beef from their stores Wednesday following the discovery of mad cow disease in a U.S. dairy cow.

Is that my bill?! How to avoid bill shock

10:00 AM, Apr 24, 2012

The FCC is teaming up with most major cellular carriers to help you avoid "bill shock." That's what happens when you find an unexpected rate increase in your monthly statement.

Rental car customers should expect no breaks on gas prices

10:26 PM, Apr 23, 2012

Travelers shouldn't look to beat high gasoline prices this year by taking advantage of every rental car outlet's offer to let you pay ahead of time for a full tank of gas.

Economists upping their forecasts for 2012

10:56 AM, Apr 23, 2012

The U.S. economy will grow faster than expected this year, despite the headwinds of higher gas prices and Europe's financial crisis, according to USA TODAY's quarterly survey of economists.

American merger could mean higher fares, analysts warn

5:13 PM, Apr 22, 2012

US Airways has taken a bold step toward merging with American Airlines, a prospect that would leave the country with four major airlines and probably lead to higher ticket prices.

National gas prices down 5 cents in past 2 weeks

3:25 PM, Apr 22, 2012

The average U.S. price of a gallon of gasoline has dropped a nickel over the past two weeks.

St. Petersburg fights back after oil spill disaster

5:09 PM, Apr 21, 2012

Two years ago today, crews were battling a blaze on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig. That fire sparked months of oil spewing into the Gulf, burning an economy here in St. Petersburg. Here's how local businesses are helping the city fight back.

Study shows how broad pay disparities are between sexes

9:50 PM, Apr 17, 2012

Women of all ages, races, ethnic backgrounds and education levels - and in almost every line of work - earned less than men, according to a report issued Tuesday by the American Association of University Women.

Storage unit auction results in profit for some, loss for owners

6:03 PM, Apr 17, 2012

A group of nearly 50 interested buyers gather to buy up other's possessions in hopes of turning a profit at Storage Centers of America in Tampa Tuesday.

U.S. stocks jump after strong profits; Spain soothes

4:29 PM, Apr 17, 2012

U.S. stocks are closing sharply higher after promising signals about the profitability of U.S. companies and a strong debt auction by Spain.

Tax Relief: Freebies & offers just in time for Tax Day

9:10 AM, Apr 16, 2012

Does the thought of paying your taxes bring you down?  Feel better with Tax Day freebies or discounts.

VIDEO: U.S. Army soldier brutally beaten in South Tampa

Police want your help finding four men who teamed up to beat a young U.S. Army soldier in a South Tampa street.

12:41 PM, May 14, 2012

Soldier Beating: Law firm, church offer rewards for information in the attack of Sgt. Johnny Aparico

A local law firm and a church are both offering rewards totalling $15,000 to anyone with information on the men who attacked a soldier in Tampa earlier this week.

5:10 PM, May 16, 2012

Video shows young soldier severely beaten by four men

Four violent men are still on the loose after beating a young soldier severely and leaving him on the sidewalk.

11:16 AM, May 15, 2012

Jennifer Holloway arrested for DUI in Fort Meade

Morning show personality Jennifer Holloway was arrested for DUI in Fort Meade Sunday night, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

3:27 PM, May 15, 2012

Brevard County Shootings: Experts say moms like Tonya Thomas who kill their kids are often driven by love

It's often a complex mix of motivations and stressors that lead a mother to kill.

12:16 PM, May 16, 2012

Former Cincinnati Bengals cheerleader Sarah Jones pleads not guilty to sex abuse

Ex-Cincinnati Bengals cheerleading squad member Sarah Jones has been charged by a grand jury with first-degree sexual abuse involving a student when she was a high school teacher.

4:10 PM, Apr 2, 2012

Michael Agana's friends say Bayshore wall crash victim taken off life support

Friends say Michael Agana's family has taken him off life support, days after crashing through Bayshore Blvd.'s wall and into Hillsborough Bay.

6:08 AM, May 16, 2012

Authorities: Tonya Thomas shot and killed her four children before shooting herself

Brevard County sheriff's investigators say a mother took the lives of her four children during an early morning confrontation before turning the gun on herself.

4:05 PM, May 15, 2012

31 arrested in Polk online prostitution busts

Polk deputies say more than two dozen people were arrested as a result of an online prostitution sting operation.

3:29 PM, Dec 5, 2011

Teen girls Emily Starnes and Cosandra Tyree accused in cab driver's death

Investigators say two 16-year-old girls have been arrested and charged with murder in the 2011 slaying of a North Carolina cab driver.

11:13 AM, Apr 2, 2012

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