The Consumer Confidence rating soared in November due to falling gas prices and a pickup in the job market. The hope is that consumers will buy heftly this holiday season, although sales did not get off to a good start. The rating rose to 98.9, the highest since August. In the month of November gas prices declined by 40 cents a gallon.

"It looks like consumers will be in a more giving mood," said Gary Thayer, chief economist at A.G. Edwards & Sons in St. Louis. But he added, "I don't think they will spend with abandon. There are still some tight financial problems for many people. We probably will see active shopping for bargains."

The new Bose suspension system for cars will shake-up the auto industry. The system is totally different than any other systems out their. The system will be competing against other systems to get in different makes of cars and trucks. Lexus will be adopting this new system. The founder of Bose has been trying to build the suspension system for over 20 years. He should get plenty of profits now.

The Federal reserve will be changing hands when Ben Bernake is to take over for Allen Greenspan. The Federal Reserve is a crucial part of our economy. It can take us out of debt, or it could cause our country to sink into even greater debt. The Federal Reserve is known as the United States's central bank.

"To achieve its missions, the Fed has two main tools: It regulates the money supply and increases or decreases short-term interest rates. More money plus lower interest rates are the tools of an "accommodative" Fed, a Fed trying to spark economic growth. If the Fed decreases the nation's money supply and raises interest rates, it is tightening, trying to slow the economy and stave off inflation."

Slow sales have continued in November for General Motors. Despite new money saving offers for consumers GM sales are expected to decline again in November. GM recently closed plants and cut jobs, which put public pressure on the automaker. Ford sales are also expected to be down in November.

Dow Jones went up 16 points Friday during the shortened Wall Street session. The Index closed with its fifth straight winning week. The major
indexes have been strong throughout November, and they will be looking to remain strong through the holidays. The market closed on Friday at 1, with many traders gone on a Thanksgiving vacation.

Black Friday has come and gone. Big sales at nearly every store caused shoppers to camp out overnight at some stores. People were camped out at the Wal-Mart in Chicopee. More people came out to shop this year than in last years shopping rush. The shoppers are said to put the Big companies into green for the year, and not red. Retailers are disappointed that a lot of people now do their Christmas shopping from their computers.

"When Orvis has a 50-percent-off sale, you can't ignore it," said Lane, who otherwise would likely have stayed home. "I never shop on this day."

Output at the nations factories mines, and other manufacturing sites, rose at its fastest pace in 17 months. This rebound occurred in October. It occurred mainly because of the rebound after the hurricane season. The output was up .9% from September. One of the reasons why it rose was that oil refineries and natural gas facilities resumed production after the Hurricanes shut them down for a while. In September output fell by 1.5%, which was the largest percent drop in two decades. The economy is looking better and better each day because of hurricane recovery.

Yesterday, gold futures rose to an 18 year high. COMAX delivery gold rose to 483.20 dollars an ounce. This all occurred right after the market open. It reached the highest since 1988. Besides gold other metals like silver and platinum also rose. Copper set an all time record at 4,185 dollars a ton.

In the wake of hurricanes, mainly Katrina, the US trade deficit has grown from 59.3 billion dollars to 66.1 billion dollars in September. This year has been the year for national disasters, and it has taken a toll on our economy. A strike at Boeing also contributed to the deficit gain. The previous high deficit was 60.6 billion dollars, which was reached last February.

"Katrina was followed by another powerful hurricane, Rita. The killer storms battered drilling platforms and onshore refineries, forcing the United States to import even more oil and natural gas than usual during the month."

There goes more oil talk!

A common phrase can be given to today's major oil companies, the rich get richer. After intense questioning by the United States Senate tycoons from the oil industry defended their immense profits from the industry. The industry is becoming more wealthy, while us Americans are struggling to pay for increasingly high gas and heating oil prices. Most of my current money is going towards gas for my car. People can't afford these high prices! The Senate takes the consumers side.

"There is a 'growing suspicion that oil companies are taking unfair advantage,' said Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M. 'The oil companies owe the American people an explanation.' "