Consumer spending remains muted
Program expenses rose 11%
Households' attitudes toward GDP and unemployment still gloomy
Longer-term challenge of aging population gets tougher as policy shifts
IMF fiscal forecast for the U.S. was off the mark
Claims from men, manufacturing sector leading the way
Consumer spending supported by immigration-driven population growth
Decline in raw materials, industrial product prices led by crude oil
Geopolitical uncertainty, trade turmoil could boost gold further
With inflation dropping quickly and growth weak, monetary easing set to accelerate